von Willebrand factor–mediated platelet adhesion is critical for deep vein thrombosis in mouse models

• Published in: Blood Vol. 117; no. 4; pp. 1400 - 1407
• Main Authors: Brill, Alexander, Fuchs, Tobias A., Chauhan, Anil K., Yang, Janie J., De Meyer, Simon F., Köllnberger, Maria, Wakefield, Thomas W., Lämmle, Bernhard, Massberg, Steffen, Wagner, Denisa D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Elsevier Inc 27.01.2011; Americain Society of Hematology; American Society of Hematology
• Series: Thrombosis and Hemostasis
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Disease Models, Animal; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Factor VIII - administration & dosage; Factor VIII - adverse effects; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Male; Medical sciences; Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Platelet Adhesiveness - drug effects; Platelet Adhesiveness - genetics; Platelet Adhesiveness - physiology; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - administration & dosage; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - metabolism; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - pharmacology; Thrombosis and Hemostasis; Veins - drug effects; Veins - metabolism; Veins - pathology; Veins - ultrastructure; Venous Thrombosis - complications; Venous Thrombosis - genetics; Venous Thrombosis - pathology; von Willebrand Diseases - complications; von Willebrand Diseases - genetics; von Willebrand Factor - genetics; von Willebrand Factor - metabolism; von Willebrand Factor - physiology; Animal model; Hematology; Rodentia; Deep vein thrombosis; Cardiovascular disease; Adhesion; Venous disease; Vascular disease; Vertebrata; Platelet; Mammalia; Mouse; Venous thrombosis; Willebrand factor
• ISSN: 0006-4971; 1528-0020
• DOI: 10.1182/blood-2010-05-287623

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and its complication, pulmonary embolism, are frequent causes of disability and mortality. Although blood flow disturbance is considered an important triggering factor, the mechanism of DVT initiation remains elusive. Here we show that 48-hour flow restriction in the inferior vena cava (IVC) results in the development of thrombi structurally similar to human deep vein thrombi. von Willebrand factor (VWF)–deficient mice were protected from thrombosis induced by complete (stasis) or partial (stenosis) flow restriction in the IVC. Mice with half normal VWF levels were also protected in the stenosis model. Besides promoting platelet adhesion, VWF carries Factor VIII. Repeated infusions of recombinant Factor VIII did not rescue thrombosis in VWF−/− mice, indicating that impaired coagulation was not the primary reason for the absence of DVT in VWF−/− mice. Infusion of GPG-290, a mutant glycoprotein Ibα-immunoglobulin chimera that specifically inhibits interaction of the VWF A1 domain with platelets, prevented thrombosis in wild-type mice. Intravital microscopy showed that platelet and leukocyte recruitment in the early stages of DVT was dramatically higher in wild-type than in VWF−/− IVC. Our results demonstrate a pathogenetic role for VWF-platelet interaction in flow disturbance-induced venous thrombosis.