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Biomedical subjects

M T Canciani

Publications and source records attributed to M T Canciani.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Biochemical characterization of a recombinant von Willebrand factor (VWF) with combined type 2B and type 1 defects in the VWF gene in two patients with a type 2A phenotype of von Willebrand disease.

BACKGROUND: In a patient previously diagnosed with type 2A von Willebrand disease (VWD) [absence of high and intermediate molecular weight von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimers and markedly reduced ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation (RIPA)], an infusion test of desmopressin was followed by mild thrombocytopenia. This led to further laboratory investigations of his affected brother and of family members, who showed different phenotypic patterns compatible with type 1, 2A, 2B and an uncertain classification of VWD. The two brothers were compound heterozygotes (C275R/P1337L), whereas the others members of the family were heterozygous for C275R (a novel mutation in the D1 domain) or P1337L (a type 2B mutation in the A1 domain). OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: To evaluate the role of the combined effect of the two mutations in the two brothers, C275R and P1337L recombinant (r) VWFs were transiently expressed in COS-7 cells. RESULTS: Recombinant VWF levels secreted in cell media were similar for wild-type (WT), P1337L and hybrid P1337L/WT rVWFs, reduced for hybrids C275R/P1337L and C275R/WT rVWFs, and strongly reduced for C275R rVWF. All rVWFs had a full set of multimers except C275R rVWF, which had only dimers. P1337L rVWF and C275R/P1337L rVWF showed the highest degree of binding to glycoprotein (GP) Ibalpha and the lowest to collagen, followed by P1337L/WT rVWF (with an intermediate level of binding to both ligands), and by WT rVWF with the lowest level of binding to GPIbalpha and the highest to collagen. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the two compound heterozygous patients have a circulating VWF mainly mutated in the A1 domain (P1337L). This peculiar type 2B VWF variant showed a remarkably high affinity for the GPIbalpha platelet receptor, leading to the loss of high and intermediate molecular weight multimers and hence to decreased RIPA, as in type 2A VWD.

Collagen↗
PubMed2006

An association of candidate gene haplotypes and bleeding severity in von Willebrand disease type 2A, 2B, and 2M pedigrees.

We analyzed the association of bleeding severity with candidate gene haplotypes within pedigrees of 11 index cases of von Willebrand disease (VWD) type 2 (two type 2A, three type 2B and six type 2M), using the QTL Association model (MENDEL 5.5). In addition to the 11 index cases, these pedigrees included 47 affected and 49 unaffected relatives, as defined by VWF mutations and/or phenotype. A bleeding severity score was derived from a detailed history and adjusted for age. Donors were genotyped using a primer extension method, and eight candidate genes were selected for analysis. VWF antigen (or ristocetin cofactor activity) levels had the strongest influence on bleeding severity score. After Bonferroni correction for multiple testing, only ITGA2 promoter haplotype -52T was associated with an increased bleeding severity score (P < 0.01). This association remained statistically significant when the three type 2B pedigrees were excluded (P = 0.012) or when gender-specific bleeding categories were excluded (P < 0.01). The major haplotypes of seven other candidate genes, GP1BA, ITGA2B, ITGB3, GP6, VWF, FGB, and IL6, were not associated with bleeding severity. These results establish that genetic differences in the expression of the integrin subunit alpha2 can influence the bleeding phenotype of VWD type 2 and complement our previous findings in VWD type 1. Genetically controlled attenuation of platelet collagen receptor expression can influence risk for morbidity in clinical settings where hemostasis is compromised.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

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.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Changes in health and disease of the metalloprotease that cleaves von Willebrand factor.

Congenital or immunomediated deficiencies of the metalloprotease that cleaves physiologically von Willebrand factor (vWF) reduce or abolish the degradation of ultralarge vWF multimers that cause the formation of intravascular platelet thrombi in patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). There is little knowledge on the behavior of the protease in other physiological and pathologic conditions. Such knowledge is important to evaluate the specificity of low protease plasma levels in the diagnosis of TTP. Using an enzyme immunoassay, the protease was measured in 177 control subjects of different ages, in 26 full-term newborns, and in 69 women during normal pregnancy. Because TTP is often associated with multiorgan involvement and acute phase reactions, clinical models of these pathologic conditions were also investigated, including decompensated liver cirrhosis (n = 42), chronic uremia (n = 63), acute inflammatory states (n = 15), and the preoperative and postoperative states (n = 24). Protease levels were lower in healthy persons older than 65 than in younger persons. They were low in newborns but became normal within 6 months, and they were lower in the last 2 trimesters of pregnancy than in the first. Protease levels were also low in patients with cirrhosis, uremia, and acute inflammation, and they fell in the postoperative period. There was an inverse relation between low protease and high plasma levels of vWF antigen and collagen-binding activity. In conclusion, low plasma levels of the vWF cleaving protease are not a specific beacon of TTP because the protease is also low in several physiological and pathologic conditions.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Molecular characterization of a multiethnic group of 21 patients with type 3 von Willebrand disease.

Type 3 von Willebrand disease is a rare autosomal disorder characterized by unmeasurable levels of von Willebrand factor and severe hemorrhagic symptoms. We studied a multiethnic group of 37 patients, from Italy (n = 14), Iran (n = 10) and India(n = 13) to identify the molecular defects and to evaluate genetic heterogeneity among these populations. Twenty-one patients (6 Italians, 9 Iranians and 6 Indians) were fully characterized at the molecular level. Twenty-four different gene alterations were identified, 20 of which have not been described previously. The majority of the mutations caused null alleles, 11 being nonsense mutations (Q218*, W222*, R365*, R373*, E644*, Q706*, S1338*, Q1346*, Y1542*, R1659*, E2129*), 4 small deletions (437delG, 2680delC, 6431delT, del 8491-8499), 3 possible splice site mutations [IVS9(-1)g-->a, IVS29(+10)c-->t, IVS40(-1)g-->c], 3 candidate missense mutations (C275S, C2174G, C2804Y), 2 small insertions (7375insC, 7921insC) and 1 large gene deletion. The latter mutation was associated with the development of alloantibodies to VWF, but this complication was also found in a patient homozygous for a nonsense mutation (Q1346*). Due to the ethnic origin of the patients most of them were the offspring of consanguineous marriages and so were homozygous for the mutations found (18/21). Our results indicate that molecular defects responsible for type 3 VWD are scattered throughout the entire VWF gene (from exon 3 to 52), and that there is no prevalent and common gene defect in the three populations studied by us.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Low platelet alpha2beta1 levels in type I von Willebrand disease correlate with impaired platelet function in a high shear stress system.

Platelet adhesion to collagen-coated surfaces in whole blood under flow conditions is mediated by both von Willebrand factor (vWF)-dependent recruitment of the platelet glycoprotein Ib-IX receptor complex and collagen interaction with the integrin alpha2beta1. In type 1 von Willebrand disease (vWD), platelet adhesive functions are impaired due to the decrease in vWF levels in plasma and platelets. There are at least three alleles of the human alpha2 gene, distinguishable by a cluster of silent or noncoding sequence differences within a segment of the gene. Two alleles, associated with low receptor density can be distinguished by nucleotide 807C, while the third allele associated with high receptor density, expresses nucleotide 807T. Gene frequencies of these alleles in a normal population (n = 167) are 0.58 for 807C and 0.42 for 807T. We measured the frequencies of these alleles in symptomatic patients with five types of vWD (type 1, n = 78; type 2A, n = 25, type 2B, n = 14; type 2M, n = 10; and type 3, n = 20). Compared with the normal group, no significant difference in allele frequencies was observed among individuals with types 2A, 2B, 2M, or 3 vWD. However, the frequency of the 807C allele, associated with low collagen receptor density, among type 1 vWD patients (807C =.71; 807T =.29) was significantly higher than that of the normal population (P =.007). Also, in patients with vWD type 1 and borderline to normal ristocetin-cofactor (vWF:RCo) activity values, collagen receptor density correlates inversely with closure time in a high shear stress system (platelet function analyzer [PFA-100]). We propose that low platelet alpha2beta1 density results in less efficient primary platelet adhesion and may result in increased tendency to bleed, as evidenced by the high frequency of this polymorphism in patients with type 1 vWD compared with normal individuals. In addition, this may account for the variability between patients with similar levels of vWF antigen, but strikingly different bleeding histories.

Alleles↗
PubMed1998

Treatment of acquired von Willebrand syndrome in patients with monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance: comparison of three different therapeutic approaches.

Patients with monoclonal gammopathies of uncertain significance (MGUS) may develop an acquired bleeding disorder similar to congenital von Willebrand disease, called acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AvWS). In these patients, measures to improve hemostasis are required to prevent or treat bleeding episodes. We diagnosed 10 patients with MGUS and AvWS: 8 had IgGkappa (3) or lambda (5) MGUS and 2 IgM-kappa MGUS. Three therapeutic approaches were compared in them: (1) desmopressin (DDAVP), (2) factor VIII/von Willebrand factor (FVIII/vWF) concentrate, and (3) high-dose (1 g/kg/d for 2 days) intravenous Ig (IVIg). In patients with IgG-MGUS, DDAVP and FVIII/vWF concentrate increased factor VIII and von Willebrand factor in plasma, but only transiently. IVIg determined a more sustained improvement of the laboratory abnormalities and prevented bleeding during surgery (short-term therapy). In addition to the standard 2-day infusion protocol, a long-term IVIg therapy was performed in 2 patients with IgG-MGUS: repeated (every 21 days) single infusions of IVIg did improve laboratory abnormalities and stopped chronic gastrointestinal bleeding. On the other hand, IVIg failed to correct laboratories abnormalities in patients with IgM-MGUS. These comparative data obtained in a relative large and homogeneous group of patients with AvWS and MGUS confirm that DDAVP and FVIII/vWF concentrates improve the bleeding time (BT) and FVIII/vWF measurements only transiently, whereas IVIg provides a sustained treatment of AvWS associated with IgG-MGUS, but not with IgM-MGUS.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Studies of multimerin in patients with von Willebrand disease and platelet von Willebrand factor deficiency.

In normal platelet alpha-granules von Willebrand factor (VWF) is stored with multimerin and factor V in an eccentric electron-lucent zone. Because the platelet stores of VWF are deficient in 'platelet low' type 1 and type 3 von Willebrand disease (VWD), we investigated their electron-lucent zone proteins. The patients with VWD had partial to complete deficiencies of plasma and platelet VWF but normal alpha-granular multimerin and factor V, and normal alpha-granular fibrinogen, thrombospondin-1, fibronectin, osteonectin and P-selectin. In type 3 VWD platelets, alpha-granular electron-lucent zones lacking VWF-associated tubules were identified and multimerin was found in its normal alpha-granular location. These findings indicate that the formation of the electron-lucent zone and the sorting of multimerin to this region occur independent of VWE The isolated abnormalities in VWF suggests a VWF gene mutation is the cause of 'platelet low' type 1 VWD.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed1997

A type 2b von Willebrand disease mutation (Ile546-->Val) associated with an unusual phenotype.

Type 2B von Willebrand disease (vWD) is typically characterized by enhanced ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation (RIPA) caused by increased von Willebrand factor (vWF) affinity for platelets. Furthermore, absence of larger vWF multimers in plasma is characteristic of the originally described type IIB patients, now considered a subgroup of type 2B. We describe here three affected members of a family presenting with prolonged bleeding time, thrombocytopenia, markedly enhanced RIPA and spontaneous platelet aggregation, but normal plasma vWF antigen and ristocetin cofactor activity. Larger plasma vWF multimers, albeit decreased, were present in relatively greater proportion than in other type IIB patients. Genetic studies performed in two of these patients resulted in the identification of a previously unreported A-->G transition at nucleotide 4175 in the sequence of the pre-pro-vWF cDNA, corresponding to the substitution Ile546-->Val in the mature vWF subunit. This mutation appears to be responsible for an unusual type 2B phenotype, with greater enhancement of the vWF-platelet interaction than in typical cases but partial preservation of the larger vWF multimers in plasma.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Released adenosine diphosphate stabilizes thrombin-induced human platelet aggregates.

Normal human platelets aggregated by thrombin undergo the release reaction and are not readily deaggregated by the combination of inhibitors hirudin, chymotrypsin, and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). In contrast, thrombin-induced aggregates of platelets from patients with delta-storage pool deficiency (delta-SPD), which lack releasable nucleotides, are readily deaggregated by the same combination of inhibitors. The ease with which delta-SPD platelets are deaggregated is caused by the lack of stabilizing effects of released ADP, since: (1) exogenous adenosine diphosphate (ADP) (10 mumol/L), but not serotonin (2 mumol/L), abolishes the ability of these inhibitors to deaggregate delta-SPD platelets; (2) thrombin-induced aggregates of platelets from a patient (V.R.) (whose platelets have a severe, selective impairment of sensitivity to ADP, but normal amounts of releasable nucleotides) can be readily deaggregated, and addition of ADP does not stabilize the platelet aggregates; (3) apyrase or creatine phosphate (CP)/creatine phosphokinase (CPK), added before thrombin, make control platelets more easily deaggregated by hirudin, chymotrypsin, and PGE1, and do not change the deaggregation response of delta-SPD platelets and of V.R.'s platelets. Thrombin-induced aggregation and release of beta-thromboglobulin in control, delta-SPD, and in V.R.'s platelets was similar and not inhibited by apyrase or CP/CPK. The stabilizing effect of ADP on platelet aggregates is specific, since epinephrine in the presence of apyrase to remove traces of released ADP does not stabilize the aggregates of control, delta-SPD, or of V.R.'s platelets. Because epinephrine increases fibrinogen binding to thrombin-stimulated platelets to a greater extent than ADP, but does not stabilize the aggregates, it is unlikely that the additional fibrinogen binding sites induced by ADP have a major role in inhibiting deaggregation by the combination of inhibitors.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1989

Early presence of activated ('exhausted') platelets in malignant tumors (breast adenocarcinoma and malignant melanoma).

To evaluate whether or not the finding of platelet activation in patients with tumors is related to the stage of malignancy, a study of biochemical markers indicative of the presence of circulating activated ('exhausted') platelets was carried out in 95 untreated patients with breast adenocarcinoma or malignant melanoma, localized or spread to regional lymph nodes with no detectable distant metastasis. These tumors were chosen as examples of tumors which can be accurately staged for localization or spread, and as examples of mucin-secreting tumors (breast adenocarcinoma) or neuroectodermic tumors (malignant melanoma). Results were compared with those for 26 patients with benign breast disease, 23 blood donors and 50 hospital workers. The most frequent abnormalities were low levels of intraplatelet ADP and 5-hydroxytryptamine and high ATP/ADP ratios. Although these abnormalities occurred with both types of tumor, they were more frequent and marked for melanomas and breast carcinomas spread to regional lymph nodes. Our data indicate that the presence of exhausted platelets is an early finding in patients with malignant tumors.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1988

Conditions influencing the interaction of asialo von Willebrand factor with human platelets--the effects of external ionized calcium concentration and the role of arachidonate pathway.

We have studied the interaction of ASvWf with human platelets in PRP and in suspensions of washed platelets containing either physiological or low external ionized calcium concentration [Ca2+]o. In hirudin-PRP or in washed platelets in 1.5-2 mM CaCl2, ASvWf up to 50 micrograms/ml does not induce platelet aggregation or the release reaction. When [Ca2+]o is decreased by addition of citrate to hirudin-PRP or when no CaCl2 is added to washed platelet suspensions, ASvWf does induce platelet aggregation and the release reaction. In low [Ca2+]o, ASvWf interacts with platelet GPIb to cause primary aggregation of disc-shaped platelets to each other through GPIIb/IIIa, with or without added fibrinogen. This primary platelet aggregation leads to thromboxane A2 formation and secondary aggregation and the release reaction. With [Ca2+]o in the physiological range, there is less ASvWf interaction with GPIb, no primary platelet aggregation and no thromboxane A2 formation. The ASvWf-platelet interaction at physiological [Ca2+]o, however, enhances the platelet response to collagen or epinephrine.

Arachidonic Acids↗
PubMed1985

Human platelet aggregation and release reaction induced by platelet activating factor (PAF-acether)--effects of acetylsalicylic acid and external ionized calcium.

The effects of the cyclo-oxygenase inhibition on PAF-acether-induced human platelet aggregation and secretion are controversial. We studied the above parameters on citrated platelet-rich plasma of 12 normal subjects before and after the in vivo administration of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). Individual sensitivities to PAF-acether were highly variable. ASA completely inhibited the platelet secretion induced by low concentrations of PAF-acether, but caused only partial inhibition when platelets were exposed to high concentrations of PAF-acether. The concentration of PAF-acether which overcame the cyclo-oxygenase inhibition varied substantially, depending on the individual sensitivity of the platelets to it. The addition of CaCl2 2 mM to the samples did not affect the extent of the platelet secretion, but increased irreversible aggregation in samples taken both before and after the ASA administration. These data suggest that low concentrations of PAF-acether stimulate the human platelet secretion by activating the cyclo-oxygenase pathway, whereas higher concentrations also trigger other mechanism(s) that suffice to induce human platelet secretion and full aggregation.

Aspirin↗