Porcine platelets contain an increased quantity of ultra-high molecular weight von Willebrand factor and numerous alpha-granular tubular structures

Summary. Immunoelectronmicroscopy of human platelet α-granules reveals that von Willebrand factor (vWf:Ag) colocalizes with a small number of discrete tubular structures which appear identical to those observed within the WeibelPalade bodies of endothelial cells. Although it is likely that tubules are composed of vWf:Ag as they are absent in severe vWD porcine platelets, their exact structural and functional nature is still unclear. In this study quantitative/qualitative analysis of vWf:Ag was undertaken in a series of platelet preparations obtained from normal pigs, normal humans and various vWD patients. Electron microscopy confirmed that normal pig platelet α-granules contain numerous, regularly spaced tubular structures eccentrically located and coincident with immunogold staining of vWf:Ag. In contrast, normal human platelet α-granules contain significantly fewer tubules (usually four to six) which are absent or reduced in number within various vWD platelet sections. Furthermore, the pig platelet lysates not only contained a full complement of multimers but also demonstrated significant intense staining of ultra-high MW material, irrespective of the presence or absence of proteolytic inhibitors. This ultrahigh MW vWf appears similar to that observed within lysates prepared from endothelial cells and is susceptible to degradation to lower MW multimers. This study suggests that the tubular structures within α-granules and Weibel-Palade bodies may be composed of, or structurally related to, the ultra-high MW intracellular form of vWf:Ag.     

Storage of tissue-type plasminogen activator in Weibel-Palade bodies of human endothelial cells.

Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is acutely released by endothelial cells. Although its endothelial storage compartment is still not well defined, t-PA release is often accompanied by release of von Willebrand factor (vWf), a protein stored in Weibel-Palade bodies. We investigated, therefore, whether t-PA is stored in these secretory organelles. Under basal culture conditions, a minority of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) exhibited immunofluorescent staining for t-PA, which was observed only in Weibel-Palade bodies. To increase t-PA expression, HUVEC were infected with a t-PA recombinant adenovirus (AdCMVt-PA). Overexpressed t-PA was detected in Weibel-Palade bodies and acutely released together with endogenous vWf by thrombin or calcium ionophore stimulation. In contrast, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 and urokinase were not detected in Weibel-Palade bodies after adenovirus-mediated overexpression. Infection of HUVEC with proinsulin recombinant adenovirus resulted in the storage of insulin in Weibel-Palade bodies, indicating that these organelles can also store nonendothelial proteins that show regulated secretion. Infection of AtT-20 pituitary cells, a cell type with regulated secretion, with AdCMVt-PA resulted in the localization of t-PA in adrenocorticotropic hormone-containing granules, indicating that t-PA can be diverted to secretory granules independently of vWf. Coinfection of AtT-20 cells with AdCMVt-PA and proinsulin recombinant adenovirus resulted in the colocalization of t-PA and insulin in the same granules. Taken together, these results suggest that HUVEC have protein sorting mechanisms similar to those of other regulated secretory cells. Although the results did not exclude an alternative storage site for t-PA in HUVEC, they established that t-PA can be stored in Weibel-Palade bodies. This finding may explain the acute coordinate secretion of t-PA and vWf.     

von Willebrand factor released from Weibel-Palade bodies binds more avidly to extracellular matrix than that secreted constitutively

Large multimers of von Willebrand factor (vWf) are released from the Weibel-Palade bodies of cultured endothelial cells following treatment with a secretagogue (Sporn et al, Cell 46:185, 1986). These multimers were shown by immunofluorescent staining to bind more extensively to the extracellular matrix of human foreskin fibroblasts than constitutively secreted vWf, which is composed predominantly of dimeric molecules. Increased binding of A23187-released vWf was not due to another component present in the releasate, since releasate from which vWf was adsorbed, when added together with constitutively secreted vWf, did not promote binding. When iodinated plasma vWf was overlaid onto the fibroblasts, the large forms bound preferentially to the matrix. These results indicated that the enhanced binding of the vWf released from the Weibel-Palade bodies was likely due to its large multimeric size. It appears that multivalency is an important component of vWf interaction with the extracellular matrix, just as has been shown for vWf interaction with platelets. The pool of vWf contained within the Weibel-Palade bodies, therefore, is not only especially suited for platelet binding, but also for interaction with the extracellular matrix.     

PADGEM protein in human erythroleukemia cells

PADGEM protein, a platelet alpha granule membrane glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 140,000, is translocated to the plasma membrane during granule secretion and platelet activation. PADGEM protein is expressed on the surface of activated platelets but not on the surface of resting platelets. Human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells contain platelet alpha granule-like organelles, alpha granule proteins, and express platelet membrane glycoproteins GPIIb/IIIa and GPIb. We demonstrate that HEL cells express a protein that has a molecular weight identical to that of PADGEM and binds to anti-PADGEM antibodies. The exposure of HEL cells in culture to dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) increased the number of cells expressing PADGEM. Fluorescence activated flow cytometric analysis demonstrated an increase in mean surface expression of PADGEM in DMSO-exposed cells compared to noninduced cells. Total cell content of PADGEM was increased 5.3-fold after DMSO exposure, as determined by radioimmunoassay. Direct binding experiments with the monoclonal anti-PADGEM antibody KC4 demonstrated specific, saturable, and time-dependent interaction of KC4 with HEL cells. A Kd of 7 nM was estimated. There were 14,000 surface binding sites per cell in noninduced cells and 24,000 surface binding sites per cell in DMSO-induced HEL cells. Surface expression of PADGEM protein on HEL cells was not increased with platelet agonists, including thrombin, epinephrine, ADP, nor cytokines, including IL-1, IL-2, tissue necrosis factor. The presence of PADGEM protein in HEL cells should facilitate the elucidation of the function of PADGEM protein.     

Divergent fates of von Willebrand factor and its propolypeptide (von Willebrand antigen II) after secretion from endothelial cells.

The intracellular site of cleavage of pro-von Willebrand factor subunit and the subsequent fate of the propolypeptide (von Willebrand antigen II) and of the mature von Willebrand factor (vWf) were investigated. Both the propolypeptide, which was found to be a homodimer of noncovalently linked subunits, and mature vWf were released from Weibel-Palade bodies of endothelial cells following stimulation with secretagogues. The stoichiometry of the two released proteins was essentially equimolar. This indicates that vWf and the propolypeptide were packaged into the Weibel-Palade bodies as one unit, pro-vWf, and that the proteolytic cleavage of pro-vWf is likely to be a post-Golgi event. The association of prosequences into dimers supports their hypothetical role in the multimerization process. After secretion, the two proteins were distributed differently, as based on the following observations. The propolypeptide did not associate with vWf in the culture medium, did not codistribute with vWf in the extracellular "patches of release" on stimulated endothelial cells, and was not detected in the endothelial cell extracellular matrix, which did contain vWf. Additionally, in contrast to vWf, the propolypeptide did not bind to the matrix of human foreskin fibroblasts. Since the propolypeptide does not associate with vWf and does not interact with extracellular matrices in vitro, it is highly unlikely that it would promote platelet adhesion to subendothelium in vivo.     

CD63 is a component of Weibel-Palade bodies of human endothelial cells

Weibel-Palade bodies are secretory granules of vascular endothelial cells specialized in the storage of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and P- selectin, two adhesion proteins that can be rapidly mobilized to the cell surface by exocytosis in response to thrombin or other agonists. In this study, we attempted to identify additional components of Weibel- Palade bodies by raising monoclonal antibodies to these granules, purified by cell fractionation. One antibody, 2C6, was found to be specific for CD63, a membrane glycoprotein previously described in the lysosomes of platelets and other cell types. The immunopurified 2C6 antigen was recognized by an anti-CD63 reference antibody, 2.28, by Western blotting. Also, the biosynthetic profile of the 2C6 antigen in endothelial cells showed a nascent molecular mass and a glycosylation pattern identical to that of CD63. Immunofluorescence staining with 2C6 showed the lysosomes, and also elongated structures identified as Weibel-Palade bodies by their shape, distribution, and positive staining with anti-vWF antibodies, CD63 was also found by Western blotting of subcellular fractions highly enriched in Weibel-Palade bodies. Our results indicate that CD63 colocalizes with vWF and P- selectin in the Weibel-Palade bodies of endothelial cells, and together with these adhesion proteins it could be rapidly expressed on the cell surface in areas of vascular injury and inflammation.     

Platelet activation and alpha granule secretion in type IIB von Willebrand''s disease

Type IIB von Willebrand disease is characterized by enhanced ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation, spontaneous platelet aggregation, thrombocytopenia and the absence of the largest plasma von Willebrand factor (vWf) multimers. The absence of the largest plasma vWf multimers is related to their enhanced binding to platelets. The abnormal affinity of the IIB von Willebrand factor to platelets results in thrombocytopenia, but the mechanism is not known. We have studied the platelets from three patients with type IIB von Willebrand disease and have found evidence of platelet activation and alpha granule secretion as defined by increased amounts of von Willebrand factor, fibrinogen and the alpha granule protein PADGEM/GMP-140 on the surface of these platelets. The degree of thrombocytopenia appears to be directly related to the number of platelets with fibrinogen bound to the surface. PADGEM/GMP-140, an alpha granule membrane protein, fuses with the platelet plasma membrane after activation and is a site on platelets which binds to neutrophils or monocytes. This alpha granule protein may play an additional role in platelet clearance and thrombocytopenia in type IIB von Willebrand disease. This may, in part, explain the absence of thromboembolic phenomena despite the presence of activated platelets in patients with type IIB von Willebrand disease.     

Re-expression of functional P-selectin molecules on the endothelial cell surface by repeated stimulation with thrombin

P-selectin (GMP-140, PADGEM, CD62P) is a cell adhesion receptor which is believed to play an important role in inflammatory diseases by supporting leucocyte rolling. P-selectin is located on the granule membrane of Weibel-Palade bodies in resting endothelial cells and is expressed on the cell surface during cellular activation with various stimulators such as thrombin. Thereafter, P-selectin is internalized and sorted to the Golgi region and Weibel-Palade bodies again. However, whether P-selectin is re-expressed upon subsequent cellular stimulation has, to date, been unclear.   To address this question, we measured the cellular content and surface expression of P-selectin, using indirect immunofluorescence and confocal laser cytometry. Surface expression of P-selectin reached a maximum < 2 min after thrombin stimulation and declined to basal levels after 180 min. Rechallenge with thrombin induced rapid surface re-expression of P-selectin, which was independent of de novo protein synthesis, since cycloheximide did not inhibit re-expression. Moreover, re-expressed P-selectin supported the adherence of HL60 promyelocytic cells.   These results clearly demonstrated that functional P-selectin molecule was recycled after repeated stimulation with thrombin, raising the possibility that P-selectin is involved in chronic inflammation.     

Biosynthesis, processing and secretion of von Willebrand factor: biological implications.

von Willebrand factor is a multimeric plasma glycoprotein that is required for normal haemostasis. von Willebrand factor is synthesized by endothelial cells and megakaryocytes, and originates from its precursor pro-von Willebrand factor. The endoproteolytic processing of pro-von Willebrand factor results in mature von Willebrand factor and von Willebrand factor propeptide (also known as von Willebrand Ag II). In endothelial cells, the propeptide controls the polymerization and subsequent targeting of von Willebrand factor to the storage vesicles, the so-called Weibel-Palade bodies. Upon stimulation of the endothelial cells, the Weibel-Palade bodies are translocated to the plasma membrane of the cell, and mature von Willebrand factor and its propeptide are co-secreted. After release, these polypeptides have divergent fates and serve different biological functions. Mature von Willebrand factor both controls platelet adhesion and aggregation at sites of vascular injury and acts as a chaperone protein for coagulation factor VIII. The von Willebrand factor propeptide may serve a role in modulating inflammatory processes. This still growing body of information indicates that the biological function of the von Willebrand factor gene product is more diverse than was previously thought.     

von Willebrand factor biosynthesis and partitioning between constitutive and regulated pathways of secretion after thrombin stimulation

The major part of von Willebrand factor (vWf) synthesized in cultured endothelial cells is secreted constitutively without stimulation and consists of all multimeric forms of vWf. In contrast, stimulation with secretagogues such as thrombin results in the release of vWf from the storage pool, the Weibel-Palade bodies which contain only the largest, most biologically potent multimeric forms of vWf. We wished to determine whether the signal for release of vWf might also function as a signal for replenishment of the vWf by enhancing de novo biosynthesis and if replenishment of the vWf storage pool involved a diversion of newly synthesized vWf from the constitutive pathway to the regulated pathway. vWf mRNA and protein levels in unstimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells were compared with cells that were briefly stimulated with 1 U/mL thrombin for 15 minutes and then incubated without thrombin for periods up to 72 hours. A comparison was also made between unstimulated cells and cells continuously exposed to thrombin for up to 48 hours. Thrombin stimulation, brief or continuous, had no significant effect on subsequent biosynthesis of vWf protein or vWf- specific mRNA. Since thrombin releases vWf only from the storage pool, we examined the possibility of diversion of newly synthesized vWf from the constitutive pathway to the regulated pathway. Cells were pulse- labeled, incubated for 15 minutes with and without thrombin, chased for various periods in unlabeled media, and briefly restimulated with thrombin. No significant redistribution of vWf between the two pathways was observed as a result of thrombin stimulation for the time periods tested.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Thrombus imaging in a primate model with antibodies specific for an external membrane protein of activated platelets.

The activated platelet is a potential target for the localization of thrombi in vivo since, after stimulation and secretion of granule contents, activated platelets are concentrated at sites of blood clot formation. In this study, we used antibodies specific for a membrane protein of activated platelets to detect experimental thrombi in an animal model. PADGEM (platelet activation-dependent granule-external membrane protein), a platelet alpha-granule membrane protein, is translocated to the plasma membrane during platelet activation and granule secretion. Since PADGEM is internal in unstimulated platelets, polyclonal anti-PADGEM and monoclonal KC4 antibodies do not bind to circulating resting platelets but do interact with activated platelets. Dacron graft material incubated with radiolabeled KC4 or anti-PADGEM antibodies in the presence of thrombin-activated platelet-rich plasma bound most of the antibody. Imaging experiments with 123I-labeled anti-PADGEM in baboons with an external arterial-venous Dacron shunt revealed rapid uptake in the thrombus induced by the Dacron graft; control experiments with 123I-labeled nonimmune IgG exhibited minimal uptake. Deep venous thrombi, formed by using percutaneous balloon catheters to stop blood flow in the femoral vein of baboons, were visualized with 123I-labeled anti-PADGEM. Thrombi were discernible against blood pool background activity without subtraction techniques within 1 hr. No target enhancement was seen with 123I-labeled nonimmune IgG. 123I-labeled anti-PADGEM cleared the blood pool with an initial half-disappearance time of 6 min and did not interfere with hemostasis. These results indicate that radioimmunoscintigraphy with anti-PADGEM antibodies can visualize thrombi in baboon models and is a promising technique for clinical thrombus detection in humans.     

An inhibitory effect of camonagrel-a new thromboxane synthase inhibitor, on P-selectin-mediated platelet/PMN adhesion

P-selectin (PADGEM protein, GMP-140 or CD 62) is a glycoprotein of platelet a-granules and endothelial Weibel-Palade bodies that, by mediating cellular adhesion, initiates recruitment of leukocytes and lymphocytes into injured tissue. Both of the endothelial antiplatelet autacoids prostacyclin (PGI(2)) and nitric oxide (NO) have been demonstrated to inhibit P-selectin expression. Prostaglandin endoperoxides PGG(2)/PGH(2) that are generated by activated platelets have been demonstrated to be used by endothelium for generation of prostacyclin. In an experimental model in vitro that resembles vessel wall/platelet/PMN interaction in vivo, we found that aspirin (100 μM), a COX inhibitor, but not L-NMMA (100 μM) and a NO-synthase inhibitor, reversed the inhibitory effect of arterial wall on P-selectin mediated platelet/PMN adhesion. The anti-adhesive potency of vessel wall reversed by aspirin was dose-dependently restored by camonagrel (3-100 μM), a new TXA(2) synthase inhibitor. We conclude that selective TXA(2)-synthase inhibitors may inhibit P-selectin mediated platelet/PMN adhesion by augmenting formation of prostacyclin by vessel walls.     

Cultured Murine Cerebral Microvascular Endothelial Cells Contain von Willebrand Factor-Positive Weibel-Palade Bodies and Support Rapid Cytokine-Induced Neutrophil Adhesion

Objective: To obtain cultures of rodent brain microvascular endothelium (BMEC) that retain endothelial cell-specific markers and functions for two purposes: investigating whether these cultures contain endothelial cell-specific storage granules or Weibel-Palade bodies and have the ability to rapidly bind neutrophils upon cytokine induction; and setting the groundwork for future studies examining endothelium derived from mice strains with targeted deficiencies in endothelial adhesion molecules. Methods: Capillaries were obtained by collagenase/dispase digestion and subsequent density centrifugation of either rodent brain or meninges. The yield was then plated onto fibronectin-coated dishes. For some studies, pure murine endothelial cultures were obtained by flow-cytometric sorting, using uptake of fluorescently labeled diI-acetylated low-density lipoprotein as a marker for endothelium. Endothelial cell-specific markers were analyzed via immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation and light microscopy. Cytokine-induced neutrophil adhesion and associated upregulation of leukocyte adhesion molecules were measured as described previously for human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Results: BMEC possess numerous von Willebrand factor–containing Weibel-Palade bodies and synthesize and secrete all multimeric forms of von Willebrand factor. They take up diI-acetylated low-density lipoproteins, contain platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecules and form capillary-like structures on three-dimensional extracellular matrix substrates. Sorted murine brain microvascular endothelial cells treated with IL-1β or TNF-α for 4 h show an increase in surface expression of the cytokine-inducible leukocyte adhesion molecules E-selectin, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1, and they support rapid neutrophil adhesion, which is, on average, three times greater than that of nonstimulated cells. Conclusions: The brain microvascular endothelial cultures described here exhibit many of the markers of endothelial cells including the presence of Weibel-Palade bodies. The localization of von Willebrand factor almost exclusively to Weibel-Palade bodies indicates that murine cerebral endothelium has evolved an efficient mechanism for storage of this platelet adhesion protein, which plays an important role in hemostasis. In addition, this is the first demonstration of rapid neutrophil adhesion to murine brain microvascular endothelial cells. Finally, the reproducible culture and the characterization of murine BMEC makes feasible future studies on endothelium isolated from gene-targeted mice.     

Activated platelets induce Weibel-Palade-body secretion and leukocyte rolling in vivo: role of P-selectin

The presence of activated platelets and platelet-leukocyte aggregates in the circulation accompanies major surgical procedures and occurs in several chronic diseases. Recent findings that activated platelets contribute to the inflammatory disease atherosclerosis made us address the question whether activated platelets stimulate normal healthy endothelium. Infusion of activated platelets into young mice led to the formation of transient platelet-leukocyte aggregates and resulted in a several-fold systemic increase in leukocyte rolling 2 to 4 hours after infusion. Rolling returned to baseline levels 7 hours after infusion. Infusion of activated P-selectin-/- platelets did not induce leukocyte rolling, indicating that platelet P-selectin was involved in the endothelial activation. The endothelial activation did not require platelet CD40L. Leukocyte rolling was mediated solely by the interaction of endothelial P-selectin and leukocyte P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (PSGL-1). Endothelial P-selectin is stored with von Willebrand factor (VWF) in Weibel-Palade bodies. The release of Weibel-Palade bodies on infusion of activated platelets was indicated by both elevation of plasma VWF levels and by an increase in the in vivo staining of endothelial P-selectin. We conclude that the presence of activated platelets in circulation promotes acute inflammation by stimulating secretion of Weibel-Palade bodies and P-selectin-mediated leukocyte rolling.     

Small GTP-binding protein Ral modulates regulated exocytosis of von Willebrand factor by endothelial cells

Weibel-Palade bodies are endothelial cell-specific organelles, which contain von Willebrand factor (vWF), P-selectin, and several other proteins. Recently, we found that the small GTP-binding protein Ral is present in a subcellular fraction containing Weibel-Palade bodies. In the present study, we investigated whether Ral is involved in the regulated exocytosis of Weibel-Palade bodies. Activation of endothelial cells by thrombin resulted in transient cycling of Ral from its inactive GDP-bound to its active GTP-bound state, which coincided with release of vWF. Ral activation and exocytosis of Weibel-Palade bodies were inhibited by incubation with trifluoperazine, an inhibitor of calmodulin, before thrombin stimulation. Functional involvement of Ral in exocytosis was further investigated by the expression of constitutively active and dominant-negative Ral variants in primary endothelial cells. Introduction of active Ral G23V resulted in the disappearance of Weibel-Palade bodies from endothelial cells. In contrast, the expression of the dominant-negative Ral S28N did not affect the amount of Weibel-Palade bodies in transfected cells. These results indicate that Ral is involved in regulated exocytosis of Weibel-Palade bodies by endothelial cells.     

Molecular and cellular biology of von Willebrand factor

von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a plasma protein that performs 2 main functions in hemostasis: it mediates platelet adhesion to the injured vessel wall, and it carries and protects coagulation factor VIII. VWF is synthesized through a multistep process in endothelial cells and megakaryocytes as a very large polymer composed of identical disulfide-linked 250-kd subunits. In endothelial cells, VWF not only directs the formation of its own storage granules, the Weibel-Palade bodies, but it also acts as a chaperone molecule to direct other proteins, such as P-selectin, into these granules. Upon stimulation of the endothelium, the Weibel-Palade bodies will be translocated to the plasma membrane, and their contents will be secreted into the plasma milieu. The expression of VWF can be regulated at different levels by a number of genetic and environmental factors, resulting in control of its activity. New roles for VWF, especially in inflammatory processes, have recently been suggested, indicating that some aspects of this well-studied protein remain to be investigated.     

Vicinal cysteines in the prosequence play a role in von Willebrand factor multimer assembly.

von Willebrand factor (vWf) is synthesized as a large precursor that dimerizes in the endoplasmic reticulum and forms multimers in the trans- and post-Golgi compartments of megakaryocytes and endothelial cells. The disulfide-bonded multimers are stored in alpha granules of platelets and Weibel-Palade bodies of endothelial cells. The prosequence, composed of two homologous D domains, is required for vWf multimerization and storage. Each D domain contains vicinal cysteines (159Cys-Gly-Leu-162Cys and 521Cys-Gly-Leu-524Cys) that are similar to those at the active site of disulfide isomerases that catalyze thiol protein disulfide interchange. As in disulfide isomerases, a positively charged amino acid (lysine) is also found in close proximity to the vicinal cysteines. Although conserved, the lysine present in thioredoxin was shown not to be essential for its redox activity. We investigated the role of the vicinal cysteines and the lysine residue in the vWf propolypeptide by site-directed mutagenesis and expression of the resulting constructs in mammalian cells. Insertion of an extra glycine between the vicinal cysteines in either D domain inhibited multimerization of dimers, whereas alteration of lysine to glycine in both domains (residues 157 and 519) had no effect. This suggests the importance of the vicinal cysteines but not the lysines in vWf multimerization. Expression of the mutant with an additional glycine in the D1 domain in AtT-20 cells, a mouse pituitary cell line that can store vWf, led to the storage of the resulting dimers. This demonstrates that the mutation did not effect the capacity of the propolypeptide to direct vWf storage while its ability to promote interchain disulfide bonding was eliminated.     

Defect in regulated secretion of P-selectin affects leukocyte recruitment in von Willebrand factor-deficient mice

Stimulation of endothelial cells by various inflammatory mediators leads to release of Weibel--Palade bodies and therefore to exocytosis of both P-selectin (adhesion receptor for leukocytes) and von Willebrand factor (vWf) (platelet ligand). The potential role of vWf in leukocyte recruitment was investigated with the use of vWf-deficient mice. We report a strong reduction of leukocyte rolling in venules of vWf-deficient mice. Similarly, vWf deficiency led to a decrease in neutrophil recruitment in a cytokine-induced meningitis model as well as in early skin wounds. In all instances with an antibody that preferentially recognizes plasma membrane P-selectin, we observed a dramatic reduction in P-selectin expression at the cell surface of vWf-deficient endothelium. With confocal microscopy, we found that the typical rodlike shape of the Weibel--Palade body is missing in vWf -/- endothelial cells and that part of the P-selectin content in the vWf -/- cells colocalized with LAMP-1, a lysosomal marker. However, intracellular P-selectin levels were similar in tumor necrosis factor alpha- and lipopolysaccharide-activated cells of both genotypes. We conclude that the absence of vWf, as found in severe von Willebrand disease, leads to a defect in Weibel--Palade body formation. This defect results in decreased P-selectin translocation to the cell surface and reduced leukocyte recruitment in early phases of inflammation.     

von Willebrand factor mediates platelet adhesion to virally infected endothelial cells.

von Willebrand factor is an adhesive glycoprotein critical to normal hemostasis. It is stored in the Weibel-Palade body of endothelial cells and upon release may mediate platelet adhesion. Herpesvirus-infected endothelium is known to be prothrombotic and to support enhanced platelet adherence. We previously identified P-selectin as a monocyte receptor that is translocated from the Weibel-Palade body to the endothelial cell surface in response to the local generation of thrombin on herpesvirus infected cells. In this study, we show that viral injury to vascular endothelial cells induces secretion of von Willebrand factor which mediates enhanced platelet adhesion to these cells.     

Storage and secretion of von Willebrand factor by endothelial cells

Endothelial cells synthesize and store von Willebrand factor. We have studied the storage and secretion of von Willebrand factor in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. In particular, we were interested in the nature of the storage compartment and the effects of perturbation on the storage and secretion processes. The storage compartment for von Willebrand factor was isolated from homogenates of endothelial cells. By an immunostaining technique the isolated vesicles stained for von Willebrand factor. The staining pattern was similar to that of Weibel-Palade bodies in intact endothelial cells. We concluded that the storage compartment containing von Willebrand factor is identical to the Weibel-Palade body. The von Willebrand factor of the isolated storage vesicles is predominantly constructed of polypeptide chains with a Mr of 220 kD. On the other hand, von Willebrand factor continuously secreted by endothelial cells is constructed of both a 220 kD and a larger precursor (apparent Mr of 275 kD) subunit. The storage vesicles contain von Willebrand factor that supports ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation. Thus, endothelial cells store fully processed, biologically active von Willebrand factor within Weibel-Palade bodies. Short-term (less than 1 h) treatment of endothelial cells with the perturbing phorbol ester 4 beta-phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) results in release of cellular stored von Willebrand factor. 24-48 h after exposure to PMA the endothelial cell distribution of von Willebrand factor is changed distinctly. While the contents of the von Willebrand factor storage sites in the cells are gradually restored within 48 h, enhanced amounts of von Willebrand factor are secreted into the medium. The number as well as the size of von Willebrand factor storage granules in the endothelial cells increase after exposure to phorbol ester, as determined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Phorbol ester treated cells release stored von Willebrand factor 48 h after they have been stimulated. PMA decreases the von Willebrand factor contents of the extracellular matrix; the deposition of von Willebrand factor in the subendothelium is blocked by PMA, whereas the degradation of matrix von Willebrand factor is not affected. Thus, perturbation of endothelial cells changes the cellular distribution of von Willebrand factor.