Comparison of type I,type III and type VI collagen binding assays in diagnosis of von Willebrand disease

Summary. Background: von Willebrand factor (VWF) plays a key role in coagulation by tethering platelets to injured subendothelium through binding sites for collagen and platelet GPIb. Collagen binding assays (VWF:CB), however, are not part of the routine work‐up for von Willebrand disease (VWD). Objectives: This study presents data on collagen binding for healthy controls and VWD subjects to compare three different collagens. Patients/Methods: VWF antigen (VWF:Ag), VWF ristocetin cofactor activity and VWF:CB with types I, III and VI collagen were examined for samples obtained from the Zimmerman Program. Results: Mean VWF:CB in healthy controls was similar and highly correlated for types I, III and VI collagen. The mean VWF:CB/VWF:Ag ratios for types I, III and VI collagen were 1.31, 1.19 and 1.21, respectively. In type 1 VWD subjects, VWF:CB was similar to VWF:Ag with mean VWF:CB/VWF:Ag ratios for types I, III and VI collagen of 1.32, 1.08 and 1.1, respectively. For type 2A and 2B subjects, VWF:CB was uniformly low, with mean ratios of 0.62 and 0.7 for type I collagen, 0.38 and 0.4 for type III collagen, and 0.5 and 0.47 for type VI collagen. Conclusions: Normal ranges for type I, III and VI collagen are correlated, but higher values were obtained with type I collagen as compared with types III and VI. The low VWF:CB in type 2A and 2B subjects suggests that VWF:CB may also supplement analysis of multimer distribution. However, these results reflect only one set of assay conditions per collagen type and therefore may not be generalizable to all collagen assays.     

Detailed von Willebrand factor multimer analysis in patients with von Willebrand disease in the European study, molecular and clinical markers for the diagnosis and management of type 1 von Willebrand disease (MCMDM-1VWD)

Summary.  Background:  Type 1 von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a congenital bleeding disorder characterized by a partial quantitative deficiency of plasma von Willebrand factor (VWF) in the absence of structural and/or functional VWF defects. Accurate assessment of the quantity and quality of plasma VWF is difficult but is a prerequisite for correct classification. Objective:  To evaluate the proportion of misclassification of patients historically diagnosed with type 1 VWD using detailed analysis of the VWF multimer structure. Patients and methods:  Previously diagnosed type 1 VWD families and healthy controls were recruited by 12 expert centers in nine European countries. Phenotypic characterization comprised plasma VWF parameters and multimer analysis using low- and intermediate-resolution gels combined with an optimized visualization system. VWF genotyping was performed in all index cases (ICs). Results:  Abnormal multimers were present in 57 out of 150 ICs; however, only 29 out of these 57 (51%) had VWF ristocetin cofactor to antigen ratio below 0.7. In most cases multimer abnormalities were subtle, and only two cases had a significant loss of the largest multimers. Conclusions:  Of the cases previously diagnosed as type 1 VWD, 38% showed abnormal multimers. Depending on the classification criteria used, 22 out of these 57 cases (15% of the total cohort) may be reclassified as type 2, emphasizing the requirement for multimer analysis compared with a mere ratio of VWF functional parameters and VWF:Ag. This is further supported by the finding that even slightly aberrant multimers are highly predictive for the presence of VWF mutations.     

von Willebrand factor A1 domain can adequately substitute for A3 domain in recruitment of flowing platelets to collagen

BACKGROUND: Binding of von Willebrand factor (VWF) to platelet GPIbalpha and to collagen is attributed to VWF A1 and A3 domains, respectively. OBJECTIVES: Using VWF, VWF lacking A1 (DeltaA1-VWF) or A3 (DeltaA3-VWF) and VWF with defective A3 (H1786A-VWF), in combination with recombinant A1 (residues 1262-1492) or A3 (residues 1671-1878), fused to glutathione-S-transferase (GST-A1 and GST-A3), we have re-investigated the role of A1 in platelet recruitment to surfaces of collagen. METHODS AND RESULTS: In flow, measurable binding of DeltaA3-VWF occurred to horse tendon, but also to human type III collagen. GST-A1 and GST-A3 both competed for binding of DeltaA1-VWF and DeltaA3-VWF to horse tendon collagen fibrils in static conditions and to human collagen III during plasmon surface resonance studies, substantiating overlapping binding sites on both collagens for A1 and A3. Heparin did not affect A3-mediated binding of VWF and DeltaA1-VWF, but inhibited binding to horse tendon collagen of GST-A1 and DeltaA3-VWF. Furthermore, A1-mediated binding to type III collagen of DeltaA3-VWF binding was strongly salt-sensitive. During perfusions at wall shear rate 2500 s(-1) of calcein-labeled platelets in reconstituted blood, DeltaA3-VWF and H1786A-VWF triggered platelet binding to horse tendon collagen comparably and as potently as VWF, and to human type III collagen, only fivefold less potently, DeltaA1-VWF being inactive. Additional flow-controlled interaction studies with DeltaA3-VWF, H1786A-VWF, the collagen-VWF antagonist saratin, heparin and the VWF neutralizing antibody 82D6A3 confirmed that H1786A-VWF binds to collagen exclusively via A1. CONCLUSION: Hence, in shear forces the VWF A1 domain can assume the role of A3 to trigger substantial platelet recruitment to human collagen fibres.     

Homozygous type 2N R854W von Willebrand factor is poorly secreted and causes a severe von Willebrand disease phenotype

Summary. Background: von Willebrand disease (VWD) type Normandy (VWD 2N) is caused by mutations at the factor (F)VIII‐binding site of von Willebrand factor (VWF), located in the D′and D3 domains on the N‐terminus of mature VWF. The R854Q mutation is the most frequent cause of this phenotype. Objectives: We report the characterization of a homozygous VWD 2N mutation, R854W, detected in a patient with a severe VWD phenotype. Methods: The plasma VWF phenotype was studied, transient expression of recombinant mutant full‐length VWF in 293 EBNA cells was performed, and the results were compared with those obtained with wild‐type (WT) VWF. Furthermore, expression was also examined in HEK293 cells, which form Weibel–Palade body‐like granules when transfected with WT VWF. Results: The multimer analysis of plasma VWF showed the lack of the typical triplet structure, with the presence of the central band only, and a relative decrease in the high molecular mass multimers. Homozygous expression of recombinant R854W VWF resulted in normal amounts of cellular VWF, but with a severe reduction in secretion into the medium. Severe reductions in FVIII binding to R854W VWF, glycoprotein Ib binding activity and collagen binding of secreted W854 VWF was observed, and reproduced the phenotypic parameters of plasma VWF. In HEK293 cells, homozygous R854W VWF failed to form Weibel–Palade body‐like granules. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that a homozygous R854W mutation in the D′ domain of VWF induces impaired secretion and activity of the protein, thereby explaining the severe phenotype of the patient.     

A novel type 2A (Group II) von Willebrand disease mutation (L1503Q) associated with loss of the highest molecular weight von Willebrand factor multimers.

Type 2A von Willebrand disease (VWD) is characterized by decreased platelet-dependent function of von Willebrand factor (VWF) associated with an absence of high-molecular-weight multimers. In this study, sequence analysis of the VWF gene from a Type 2A VWD patient showed a novel, heterozygous T-->A transversion at nucleotide 4510, resulting in the non-conservative substitution of L1503Q in the mature VWF subunit. This substitution, which was not found in 55 unrelated normal individuals, was reproduced by in vitro site directed mutagenesis of a full-length VWF cDNA and was subsequently expressed in COS-7 cells. The corresponding recombinant mutant VWF protein was partially retained in COS-7 cells yet the full spectrum of multimers was observed, suggesting that the absence of the highest molecular weight multimers results from increased proteolysis. The recombinant mutant VWF protein was digested with the ADAMTS13 protease from VWF-depleted plasma and the aberrant VWF multimer pattern was observed. These results suggest that the L1503Q substitution induces a conformational change in the VWF protein, which increases the protein's susceptibility to proteolysis. A three-dimensional model of the A2 domain demonstrates that the L1503Q mutation and the physiological proteolytic cleavage site for ADAMTS13 (Y(1605)-M(1606)) are localized close together in two adjacent parallel beta-sheets. The mutation L1503Q does not significantly disrupt the conformation of the protein; thus the subtle loss of multimers in this patient may be due to altered interactions with the ADAMTS13 protease.     

Dimerization and multimerization defects of von Willebrand factor due to mutated cysteine residues

Summary.  In patients classified with type 1 and type 3 von Willebrand disease missense mutations resulting in the loss of cysteine residues in the D3-domain (multimerization area) and in the carboxy-terminus (dimerization area) of the von Willebrand factor (VWF) have been identified. We have investigated how these structural changes result in a quantitative VWF deficiency and how they interfere with the dimerization and multimerization processes. The effect of mutations in the multimerization area (C1130F, C1149R) and in the dimerization area (C2671Y, C2739Y, C2754W) of human recombinant VWF were investigated in transient transfection assays in 293T cells. All mutations resulted in reduced secretion of VWF in the medium and in intracellular retention. The amino-terminal mutants C1130F and C1149R showed impaired multimerization by lacking high molecular weight (HMW) multimers, in cotransfection experiments with wild-type (wt) VWF, the multimeric pattern was consistent with the pattern in the heterozygous type 1 patients. The carboxy-terminal mutants C2739Y and C2754W showed strongly reduced to nearly absent secretion of VWF, consistent with type 3 VWD. The multimeric pattern of C2739Y and C2754W is characterized by the absence of HMW multimers, an excess of monomers and intervening odd-numbered multimeric bands, indicating a dimerization defect. The carboxy-terminal mutant C2671Y is different, with mildly reduced secretion, intermediate intracellular retention and a normal multimerization pattern. We conclude that, in accordance with a phenotype of quantitative VWF deficiency, all cysteine mutants show impaired secretion, although the decrease of VWF in vitro appears lower than in the patients, suggesting additional, possibly heightened clearance, mechanisms in vivo .     

Expression studies on a novel type 2B variant of the von Willebrand factor gene (R1308L) characterized by defective collagen binding

A novel mutation, R1308L (3923G > T) was present in the heterozygous state in five members of a family with type 2B von Willebrand disease (VWD) characterized by a full set of von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimers in plasma and by the absence of thrombocytopenia before and after desmopressin (DDAVP). The defect (R1308L) was located at the same amino acid position of one of the most common mutations associated with type 2B VWD (R1308C), which is characterized by the loss of high molecular weight VWF multimers (HMWM) in plasma and the occurrence of thrombocytopenia. To understand the mechanisms of this defect, the novel (R1308L) and 'common' (R1308C) mutations were expressed in COS-7 cells, either alone or, to mimic the patients' heterozygous state, together with wild-type VWF. R1308L recombinant VWF (rVWF) had a higher affinity for the platelet glycoprotein Ibalpha (GPIbalpha) receptor than wild-type rVWF, R1308C rVWF showing an even higher affinity. A novel finding was that both mutant rVWFs showed a similarly reduced binding to collagen type I and type III in comparison with wild-type rVWF. The latter finding suggests a more important role than recognized so far for the VWF A1 domain in VWF binding to collagen, which may contribute to the in vivo hemostatic defect associated with type 2B VWD.     

Reduced von Willebrand factor secretion is associated with loss of Weibel–Palade body formation

Background:  von Willebrand disease (VWD) is caused by mutations in von Willebrand factor (VWF) that have different pathophysiologic effect in causing low plasma VWF levels. Type 1 VWD includes quantitative plasma VWF deficiency with normal VWF structure and function. Objectives:  We report three novel type 1 VWF mutations (A1716P, C2190Y and R2663C) located in different VWF domains that are associated with reduced secretion and reduced formation of elongated Weibel–Palade body (WPB)‐like granules. Methods:  Transient expression of recombinant mutant full‐length VWF in 293 EBNA cells was performed and secretion, collagen binding and GpIb binding assessed in comparison with wild‐type VWF. Expression was also examined in HEK293 cells that form WPB‐like granules when transfected with wild‐type VWF. Results:  Laboratory results and multimer analysis of plasma VWF was compatible with type 1 VWD. Expression experiments demonstrated slightly reduced VWF synthesis and drastically impaired secretion upon homozygous expression. In HEK293 cells, homozygous expression of A1716P and C2190Y VWF variants failed to form elongated WPB‐like granules, while R2663C was capable of WPB‐like granules. Heterozygous expression of VWF variants had a negative impact on wild‐type VWF with a reduction in elongated WPB‐like granules in co‐transfected cells. Conclusions:  Our results demonstrate that homozygous and heterozygous quantitative VWF deficiency caused by missense VWF mutations in different VWF domains can be associated with inability to form endothelial WPB‐like granules.     

Measurement of von Willebrand factor activity: relative effects of ABO blood type and race

Summary.  Tests based on three different principles are reported to measure the activity of von Willebrand factor (VWF): ristocetin cofactor (VWF:RCo), collagen binding (VWF:CB), and the so-called 'activity ELISA' (VWF:MoAb). We measured these and other diagnostic parameters in a population of 123 randomly selected female study controls, age 18–45 years. Type O subjects had significantly lower levels than non-O subjects in each test. Race differences were seen in all tests except VWF:RCo, with Caucasians having significantly lower levels than African-Americans. ABO differences accounted for 19% of the total variance in VWF:Ag ( P  < 0.0001) and race for 7% ( P  < 0.0001), for a total of 26%. Both effects were mediated through VWF:Ag and were independent. VWF:Ag level was the primary determinant of VWF function, accounting for approximately 60% of the variance in VWF:RCo and VWF:CB and 54% of the variance in factor VIII. The ratio VWF:RCo/VWF:Ag differed significantly by race within blood group. The median ratios were 0.97 for type O Caucasians vs. 0.79 for type O African-Americans and 0.94 for non-O Caucasians vs. 0.76 for non-O African-Americans. The ratio VWF:CB/VWF:Ag did not vary. This suggests racial differences in the interaction of VWF with GP1b but not with subendothelium. Alternatively, VWF:RCo may be regulated to maintain a relatively constant plasma level in the presence of excessive VWF:Ag. This heterogeneity within the normal population is partially responsible for the difficulty in defining diagnostic limits for von Willebrand disease.     

一例2N型遗传性血管性血友病家系的表型诊断和基因型分析

目的：探讨1个遗传性血管性血友病（von Willebrand disease,vWD）2N型家系的表型诊断和基因型分析结果,明确患者的发病机制。方法：对该家系的先证者和家系成员进行出血时间、活化部分凝血活酶时间、瑞斯托霉素诱导的血小板聚集（ristocetin induced platelet aggregation,RIPA）试验、血管性血友病因子（von Willebrand factor,vWF）瑞斯托霉素辅因子、vWF抗原、vWF活性测定、vWF胶原结合试验、凝血因子Ⅷ（coagulation factor Ⅷ,FⅧ）活性、vWF与FⅧ结合试验检测,并作出表型诊断。提取先证者的外周血基因组DNA,用PCR法扩增VWF基因和F8基因的所有外显子及侧翼序列,通过直接测序分析VWF基因和F8基因变异。结果：vWD家系先证者的活化部分凝血活酶时间和出血时间明显延长,血浆瑞RIPA试验、vWF瑞斯托霉素辅因子、vWF抗原、vWF活性和vWF胶原结合试验检测结果均正常,FⅧ活性下降,vWF与FⅧ的结合能力降低。对先证者进行基因测序,发现其VWF基因19号外显子存在c.2446C>T（p.Arg816Trp）错义突变,其儿子在该位点为杂合突变,而先证者及家系成员的F8基因未发现突变。结论：c.2446C>T（p.Arg816Trp）错义突变是导致该家系先证者发生2N型遗传性vWD的原因。     

The von Willebrand factor

Summary Von Willebrand factor (vWf) is a multimeric and multivalent adhesive protein which is essential for platelet adhesion to subendothelium and for stabilization of factor VIII procoagulant activity in circulation. The quantitative measurement of vWf involves essentially two different approaches. The first is based on the interaction between vWf and Gp Ib of the platelet membrane in presence of ristocetin (ristocetin cofactor activity, RiCof) and depends not only on the amount of the factor but also on its ability to bring about this interaction, large multimers being more active. The second approach involves the immunological quantitation of vWf (vWf:Ag) by its interaction with specific polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies as measured by several methods, i.e., electroimmunoassay, immunoradiometric assay and immunoenzymatic assay. Although in the majority of type II von Willebrand disease (vWd) with dysfunctional vWf there is a discrepancy between RiCof and vWf:Ag, it should be emphasized that RiCof activity does not entirely reflect the ‘true’ activity of vWf since it does not explore all the functions of this factor; furthermore, the relationship between degree of multimerization and RiCof level is not always tenable, as for example in vWd ‘Vicenza’. For the diagnosis of congenital and acquired vWd RiCof assay together with family investigation is the eligible test, with an estimated ability to detect at least 50% of the carriers of the abnormal gene, including mildly affected patients; vWf:Ag appears less sensitive and, on the basis of studies carried out in our laboratory, a relative sensitivity of 64% is proposed. Both assays require the definition of separate normal ranges for children and adults and for 0 and non-0 blood group subjects; a nonparametric approach in a large sample of normal subjects is advisable. With RiCof assay performed by an aggregometric method using formalin-fixed platelets an interassay variability of 6% and 8.5% respectively for high- and low-control plasma was found in our laboratory. With vWf:Ag assayed by an ELISA method a variability of 7% for low- and 6% for high-control plasma was found. Thus, both methods appear sufficiently precise for clinical use. The use of an internal pool calibrated against an international standard allows to perform comparable interlaboratory measurements. To further improve standardization of these assays, collaborative studies seem urgently required. Presented at the ‘2nd International Symposium on Standardization and Quality Control of Coagulation Tests: Implications for the Clinical Laboratory’, Rome, September 28–29, 1989.     

Effect of von Willebrand disease type 2B and type 2M mutations on the susceptibility of von Willebrand factor to ADAMTS-13

BACKGROUND: von Willebrand disease (VWD) type 2 is associated with mutations in von Willebrand factor (VWF) that affect its secretion, multimeric pattern, affinity for platelet receptors and clearance of the protein. While increased proteolysis by a disintegrin-like and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 motifs-13 (ADAMTS-13) has been clearly established for VWF type 2A, only little is known about VWF types 2B and 2M in this regard. OBJECTIVES: Sensitivity of wild-type (WT) and mutated recombinant (r) VWF to proteolysis by ADAMTS-13 was investigated to better understand the role of this process in the pathophysiology of VWD. METHODS: We used human rADAMTS-13-WT to digest 11 full-length recombinant forms of VWF carrying molecular abnormalities identified in patients with VWD type 2A (E1638K and P1648S), type 2B (InsM1303, R1306W, R1308P and V1314F) and type 2M (G1324A, E1359K, K1362T, R1374H and I1425F). RESULTS: Using low ionic strength conditions, all mutations induced increased proteolysis of rVWF by rADAMTS-13 as compared with rVWF-WT. The susceptibility of mutants decreased in the following order: type 2A > type 2B > type 2M > rVWF-WT. At physiological salt concentration (150 mm NaCl) the sensitivity of all rVWF to rADAMTS-13 was significantly decreased. However, type 2A and type 2B mutants still exhibited a significantly higher susceptibility to rADAMTS-13 than rVWF-WT, whereas type 2M mutants normalized. CONCLUSIONS: Type 2M mutants and rVWF-WT exhibit a similar sensitivity to rADAMTS-13-mediated proteolysis, in agreement with the normal multimeric pattern in vivo. In VWD type 2B, the spontaneous binding to platelets and excessive degradation by ADAMTS-13 of VWF high-molecular-weight multimers may account for their clearance from plasma.     

Different bleeding risk in type 2A and 2M von Willebrand disease: a 2‐year prospective study in 107 patients

Summary. Background: Type 2A and 2M von Willebrand disease (VWD2A and VWD2M) are characterized by the presence of a dysfunctional von Willebrand factor (VWF) and a variable bleeding tendency. So far, a head‐to‐head comparison of the clinical history and bleeding risk between VWD2A and VWD2M has never been provided in a prospective manner. Aim of the study: We assessed the bleeding incidence rate and clinical characteristics in two cohorts of 17 families (46 patients) with VWD2A and 15 families (61 patients) with VWD2M prospectively followed‐up for 24 months. VWF gene mutations were characterized in all of them. Results: Mean bleeding score (BS) and VWF antigen at enrollment were significantly higher in VWD2A patients (P = 0.007). No correlation between VWF activity or factor VIII levels and the severity of BS was observed. The incidence rate of spontaneous bleeding requiring treatment was 107/100 patient‐years (95% CI, 88.3–131) in VWD2A compared with 40/100 patient‐years (95% CI, 30–53) in VWD2M (P < 0.001). The risk of bleeding was significantly higher in patients with BS ≥ 10 at enrollment compared with those with BS 0–2. Furthermore, 54 episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding occurred in 17/46 (36.9%) VWD2A patients and seven in 2/61 (3.3%) VWD2M patients (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Bleeding tendency in VWD2A is greater than that of VWD2M, is not explained by factor VIII or VWF levels and is mainly due to an increased incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding.     

Genetic alteration of the D2 domain abolishes von Willebrand factor multimerization and trafficking into storage

Summary.  Background: The large von Willebrand factor (VWF) propeptide (VWFpp) plays a critical role in the multimerization and regulated storage of the mature VWF protein. Although our laboratory and others have identified mutations in von Willebrand disease patients that disrupt VWF multimerization, little is known about the affect of mutations on the regulated storage of VWF. Patients/Methods: We identified a heterozygous 18 base pair, in-frame deletion in exon 12 of the VWF gene in a patient with an unusual, dimer-intense multimer pattern. This deletion results in loss of amino acids 436–442 of VWFpp, which include one cysteine. Results: Through expression studies, we demonstrate reduced secretion, loss of VWF multimerization, and defective regulated storage of the variant VWF. The loss of VWF storage is secondary to loss of propeptide storage resulting from an apparently defective sorting signal on VWFpp. Suprisingly, coexpressed wild-type VWF or VWFpp functioned in trans to partially restore multimerization of VWF from the variant allele. Conclusions: The deletion of six amino acids in VWFpp results in defects in VWF processing, regulated storage, and function. Although VWFpp may usually function in a homotypic fashion, acting on its own mature VWF subunit, VWFpp may retain the ability to function in trans on VWF expressed from the variant allele.     

von Willebrand 因子胶原结合试验的建立及其临床应用

目的　建立了一种新的检测vonWillebrand因子 (vWF)功能的方法。　方法　用ELISA法检测血浆中vWF与胶原的结合能力。　结果　该法敏感性为 0 0 0 1U/ml,批内和批间变异为3 34%和 6 70 %。 2 0名正常人血浆的胶原结合试验 (vWF :CBA)值为 (90 2 4± 2 2 87) %。 5 4例初步诊断为血管性血友病 (vWD)患者vWF :CBA值为 (31 94± 2 7 36 ) % ,10例 1型vWD为 (35 2 2± 2 0 0 2 ) % ,10例 2A型vWD为 (8 74± 6 38) % ,6例 3型vWD为 (0 70± 0 5 8) % ,以上各组值均低于正常值 (P <0 0 1) ;2A型vWD患者vWF :CBA值小于 1型vWD(P <0 0 1)。　结论　vWF胶原结合试验是一项简单易行、准确反映vWF功能的实验 ,为研究血管性血友病 (vWD)和血栓性疾病提供了一种新的方法 ,可向临床推广。