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Attachment of platelets from the circulation onto a growing thrombus is a process involving multiple platelet receptors, endothelial matrix components, and coagulation factors. It has been indicated previously that during a transglutaminase reaction activated factor XIII (FXIIIa) covalently cross-links von Willebrand factor (VWF) to polymerizing fibrin. Bound VWF further recruits and activates platelets via interactions with the platelet receptor complex glycoprotein Ib (GPIb). In the present study we found proof for binding of VWF to a fibrin monomer layer during the process of fibrinogen-to-fibrin conversion in the presence of thrombin, arvin, or a snake venom from Crotalus atrox. Using a domain deletion mutant we demonstrated the involvement of the C domains of VWF in this binding. Substantial binding of VWF to fibrin monomers persisted in the presence of the FXIIIa inhibitor K9-DON, illustrating that cross-linking via factor XIII is not essential for this phenomenon and suggesting the identification of a second mechanism through which VWF multimers incorporate into a fibrin network. Under high shear conditions, platelets were shown to adhere to fibrin only if VWF had been incorporated. In conclusion, our experiments show that the C domains of VWF and the E domain of fibrin monomers are involved in the incorporation of VWF during the polymerization of fibrin and that this incorporation fosters binding and activation of platelets. Fibrin thus is not an inert end product but partakes in further thrombus growth. Our findings help to elucidate the mechanism of thrombus growth and platelet adhesion under conditions of arterial shear rate., (© 2014 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.)

Prothrombinase activity was analysed in the plasma of a series of patients with lupus anticoagulants (LAC). In the presence of purified PS-PC (20-80%) vesicles the prothrombinase activity triggered by kaolin was retarded by 2-3 min with respect with normal plasma. The maximal values of prothrombinase activity increased by increasing the amount of phospholipid vesicles. However, in the plasma of the patients they were always lower than those of normal plasma at each phospholipid concentration. Platelet-dependent prothrombinase activity was subsequently investigated. Again, both a delay in appearance and reduced peak values of prothrombinase activity were observed in the plasma of the patients. This inhibition was partially overcome by the addition of an excess of purified phospholipids. Finally, the effect of LAC IgG on platelet rich plasma-dependent prothrombinase activity was investigated. The main effect observed was a delay of the peak time of prothrombinase activity, while the maximal peaks were affected only by one IgG preparation. We conclude that LAC antibodies can react with both purified negatively-charged phospholipids and platelet procoagulant phospholipids and inhibit prothrombinase activity in a similar way in both cases.