The human blood protein Von Willebrand Factor (VWF) plays a critical role during thrombotic and hemostatic processes by forming a molecular bridge between extra-cellular matrix proteins exposed on the denuded blood vessel wall and platelets in the flow stream. Such platelet recruitment on the injured vessel wall contributes to plug and emboli formation in the vasculature. Several aspects of VWF function are regulated by fluid or hydrodynamic shear: i) The constitutively active blood metalloprotease ADAMTS-13 cleaves VWF, with proteolysis rate being tightly regulated by fluid shear. ii) VWF binding to GpIba on platelet surface is augmented by fluid shear, and platelet recruitment at sites of vascular injury also occurs in a shear-dependent manner. iii) In addition to ADAMTS-13, fluid shear promotes the self-association of VWF and this is an additional mechanism regulating VWF size in circulation. Since multiple functions of VWF are regulated by similar magnitudes of applied hydrodynamic forces, we suggest that these functions are regulated by common/overlapping structural changes. These changes likely occur in the globular head section of VWF that contains the D'D3, A1, A2 and A3 domains of the protein. In particular, our specific aims determine: 1) if the masking of the VWF-A1 domain by VWF-D'D3 contributes to reduced cell adhesion in the native protein, with fluid shear unmasking this molecular interaction. 2) if the binding of ADAMTS-13 to VWF changes the conformation of the A2-domain and if this acts in synergy with fluid shear to regulate proteolysis kinetics. 3) if VWF self-association precedes and enhances the rate of shear driven VWF-A2 proteolysis, and if this protein aggregation process also enhances the avidity of VWF-GpIb1 binding under shear. To address these aims, a series of single-domain, dual-domain and multimeric-VWF constructs are produced in mammalian expression systems. Panels of novel single-domain and multimeric-VWF FRET proteins are also made. Functional/structural studies are carried out to measure VWF binding, protein conformation change, platelet adhesion and activation using both flow cytometry and fluorescence/confocal microscopy. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) provides measures of molecular binding affinity/kinetics. Tandem mass spectrometry is applied to elucidate structural changes promoted by shear. In terms of a bridge between these different experimental modalities, hydrodynamic modeling is applied to estimate the magnitude and nature of force applied under the variety of fluid shear conditions. In order to confirm the physiological relevance of the work, particular emphasis is placed on validating the proposed hypotheses in the milieu of whole human blood, and in the presence of physiological/pathological shear stress. Some hypotheses are also validated in a mouse model of arterial thrombosis. Together, the studies are designed to provide fundamental insight on the role of fluid shear in regulating VWF structure, size and function. Success in this application may spur additional investigations on molecular interactions in circulation, besides VWF, that are conditioned by flowing blood.

Public Health Relevance

The binding of blood platelets to sites of plaque rupture/vascular injury via von Willebrand Factor (VWF) leads to the stoppage of blood flow during heart attack and stroke. This project aims to understand the role of fluid flow in regulatin the structure and function of VWF. This understanding is necessary as we look for novel therapies that aim to modulate platelet adhesion rates in humans.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL077258-08
Application #
8774921
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Sarkar, Rita
Project Start
2004-07-01
Project End
2016-11-30
Budget Start
2014-12-01
Budget End
2016-11-30
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
State University of New York at Buffalo
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Biomed Engr/Col Engr/Engr Sta
DUNS #
038633251
City
Amherst
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
14228
Zhang, C; Kelkar, A; Nasirikenari, M et al. (2018) The physical spacing between the von Willebrand factor D'D3 and A1 domains regulates platelet adhesion in vitro and in vivo. J Thromb Haemost 16:571-582
Gogia, Shobhit; Kelkar, Anju; Zhang, Changjie et al. (2017) Role of calcium in regulating the intra- and extracellular cleavage of von Willebrand factor by the protease ADAMTS13. Blood Adv 1:2063-2074
Zhang, Changjie; Neelamegham, Sriram (2017) Application of microfluidic devices in studies of thrombosis and hemostasis. Platelets 28:434-440
Liu, Gang; Cheng, Kai; Lo, Chi Y et al. (2017) A Comprehensive, Open-source Platform for Mass Spectrometry-based Glycoproteomics Data Analysis. Mol Cell Proteomics 16:2032-2047
Nascimbene, Angelo; Neelamegham, Sriram; Frazier, O H et al. (2016) Acquired von Willebrand syndrome associated with left ventricular assist device. Blood 127:3133-41
Hubbard, A R; Heath, A B; Kremer Hovinga, J A et al. (2015) Establishment of the WHO 1st International Standard ADAMTS13, plasma (12/252): communication from the SSC of the ISTH. J Thromb Haemost 13:1151-3
Gogia, Shobhit; Lo, Chi Y; Neelamegham, Sriram (2015) Detection of Plasma Protease Activity Using Microsphere-Cytometry Assays with E. coli Derived Substrates: VWF Proteolysis by ADAMTS13. PLoS One 10:e0126556
Gogia, Shobhit; Neelamegham, Sriram (2015) Role of fluid shear stress in regulating VWF structure, function and related blood disorders. Biorheology 52:319-35
Shao, Shuai; Geng, Jumin; Ah Yi, Hyun et al. (2015) Functionalization of cobalt porphyrin-phospholipid bilayers with his-tagged ligands and antigens. Nat Chem 7:438-46
Madabhushi, Sri R; Zhang, Changjie; Kelkar, Anju et al. (2014) Platelet GpIba binding to von Willebrand Factor under fluid shear:contributions of the D?D3-domain, A1-domain flanking peptide and O-linked glycans. J Am Heart Assoc 3:e001420

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