Is raised von Willebrand factor a marker of endothelial cell damage?

doi:10.1016/0306-9877(93)90118-A

Medical Hypotheses

Volume 41, Issue 5, November 1993, Pages 419-424

https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-9877(93)90118-A Get rights and content

Abstract

This hypothesis proposes that, in the absence of actively metastasising neoplasia, damage to the endothelium can be monitored by measuring circulating levels of von Willebrand factor. This specific product of the endothelial cell is important in thrombo-genesis as its functions include platelet aggregation and mediation of platelet adhesion to the subendothelium. High levels are found in all major risk factors of atherosclerosis, in frank atherosclerotic vascular disease and in most of the inflammatory vasculitides, and the highest levels are also associated with more severe disease and risk of mortality. It follows that high levels of von Willebrand factor may be a new risk factor for the development of thrombosis and atherosclerosis.

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Citation Excerpt :
Non-physiological low wall shear stress and oscillatory wall shear stress found in localized regions of stasis or turbulence promote endothelial proliferation, morphological variations, vasoconstriction, coagulation, and platelet agglutination [45,46]. Adversely, non-physiological high wall shear stress damages the endothelium [47], causing exocytosis of vWF, which anchors to the vessel wall binding and retaining platelets [48]. Platelets then quickly activate, causing platelet aggregation, and the activated platelets can also promote activation of the clotting factors.
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Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is actively involved in the mechanism of occurrence, development and progression of all the degrees of atherosclerosis. The established impact of ED on the progress and outcome of cardiovascular diseases, together with convincing indications of a possible successful therapeutic modification, necessitate the changeover of ED assessment from experimental to a routine practice. As there is no appropriate method for a clinical practice, scientists anticipate significant research efforts in the further development. Among numerous methods already available, von Willebrand Factor (vWF) stands out significantly. In accordance with the accepted leading diagnostic role of vWF baseline levels in the group of peripheral endothelial markers, and earlier scientific observations on the absence of its expected reactivation during physical exercise, we hypothesised this promising theory.
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Is raised von Willebrand factor a marker of endothelial cell damage?

Abstract

Hum Pathol

Biochem Biophys Acta

Lancet

Thrombosis Res

Metabolism

Lancet

Atherosclerosis

Biologicals

Lancet

Am J Med

Cell Biol Int Reports

Cholesterol in the prediction of atherosclerotic disease. New perspectives based on the Framingham study

Ann Int Med

The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis—an update

New Eng J Medicine

The spectrum of vasculitis. Clinical, pathologic, immunologic and therapeutic considerations

Annals Int Med

Complement activating, rheumatoid factor containing complexes in patients with rheumatoid vasculitis

Annals Rheum Dis

Cell biology of von Willebrand factor

Annual Rev Cell Biology

Composition of the von Willebrand factor storage organelle (Wiebel-Palade body) isolated from cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells

J Cell Biol

Human von Willebrand factor: A multivalent protein composed of identical subunits

Biochemistry

Interaction of purified type IIb von Willebrand factor with the platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib induces fibrinogen binding to the glycoprotein IIbIIIa complex and initiates aggregation

Stabilisation of factor VIII in plasma by the von Willebrand factor

J Clin Invest

Structural basis of von Willebrand factor binding to platelet glycoprotein Ib and collagen

J Clin Invest

von Willebrand's disease

Presence of factor VIII related antigen in blood platelets of patients with von Willebrand's disease

Nature

Factor VIII antigen plasma levels in diabetes mellitus. Enhanced endothelial release and storage

Thrombosis Haemostasis

Evidence for functional endothelial cell damage in early diabetic retinopathy

Diabetologia

A comparative study using immunological and biological assays of the haemostatic responses to DDAVP infusion, venous occlusion and exercise in normal men

Thromb Haemostas

Changes in anti-hemophilic factor (AHF, Factor VIII) procoagulant activity and AHF-like antigen in normal pregnancy and following exercise and pneumencephalography

J Lab Clin Med

The role of vascular endothelium in the pathogenesis of connective tissue disease: endothelial injury, activation, participation and response

Clin Exp Rheum

Cytokine-mediated activation of vascular endothelium

Am J Pathol

Experimental arteriosclerosis. I. Fibrous plaque formation in primates. An electron microscope study

J Exp Med

Role of von Willebrand factor in atherogenesis

Artery

Increased von Willebrand-antihaemophilic factor A in diabetic retinopathy

Acta Ophthalmologica

Changes in the factor VIII complex in diabetic ketoacidosis: evidence of endothelial cell damage

Diabetologia

Smoking and arterial disease—News of the old enemy

Eur J Vasc Surgery

Increased circulating levels of von Willebrand factor antigen in smokers may be due to lipid peroxides

Med Sci Res

Interaction of purified type IIb von Willebrand factor with the platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib induces fibrinogen binding to the glycoprotein $IIb IIIa$ complex and initiates aggregation