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W F Bahou

Publications and source records attributed to W F Bahou.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

The molecular defect in type IIB von Willebrand disease. Identification of four potential missense mutations within the putative GpIb binding domain.

Type IIB von Willebrand Disease (vWD) is characterized by the selective loss of large von Willebrand Factor (vWF) multimers from plasma, presumably due to their increased reactivity with platelets and subsequent clearance from the circulation. Using the PCR, one of a panel of four potential missense mutations was identified in each of the 14 patients studied from 11 unrelated families. None of these substitutions was encountered in a large panel of normal DNAs. These changes all represent C----T transitions at CpG dinucleotides, proposed "hot spots" for mutation in the human genome. The four resulting amino acid substitutions, Arg543----Trp, Arg545----Cys, Val553----Met, and Arg578----Gln, are all clustered within the GpIb binding domain of vWF. Disruption of this latter functional domain may explain the pathogenesis of Type IIB vWD. By sequence polymorphism analysis, the Arg543----Trp substitution was shown to have occurred as at least two independent mutational events. This latter observation, along with the identification of mutations in all 14 patients studied and their localization to the GpIb binding domain, all strongly suggest that these substitutions represent the authentic defects responsible for Type IIB vWD. This panel of mutations may provide a useful diagnostic tool for the majority of patients with Type IIB vWD.

Alleles↗

A monoclonal antibody to von Willebrand factor (vWF) inhibits factor VIII binding. Localization of its antigenic determinant to a nonadecapeptide at the amino terminus of the mature vWF polypeptide.

vWF is a multimeric glycoprotein that serves as the major carrier in plasma of Factor VIII (FVIII). We have used an anti-human vWF MAb W5-6A to investigate the FVIII binding site on vWF. W5-6A inhibited FVIII binding to vWF-coated polystyrene tubes in a concentration-dependent manner with 90% inhibition of FVIII binding at a concentration of 10 micrograms/ml. The W5-6A epitope was identified by screening a vWF fragment library using the bacteriophage expression vector lambda gt11. DNA sequence analysis of 29 immunoreactive phage clones localized the W5-6A epitope to a nonadecapeptide spanning amino acid residues threonine 78 to threonine 96 at the amino-terminus of the mature vWF polypeptide. Purified beta-galactosidase/vWF fusion protein from one of these clones, vWF9, was incubated with radiolabeled W5-6A and caused near complete inhibition of W5-6A binding to vWF. Inhibitory activity was lost after vWF9 trypsinization or reduction and alkylation. These data indicate that (a) the antigenic determinant recognized by W5-6A localizes to a nonadecapeptide at the NH2 terminus of the mature vWF polypeptide, (b) disulfide bonds within vWF9 may be necessary to maintain the structure required for immunoreactivity with W5-6A, and (c) W5-6A recognizes an immunogenic region on vWF that may be at (or near) the major FVIII binding domain.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Molecular genetic analysis of porcine von Willebrand disease: tight linkage to the von Willebrand factor locus.

von Willebrand disease (vWD), one of the most common bleeding disorders in humans, is manifested as a quantitative or qualitative defect in von Willebrand factor (vWF), an adhesive glycoprotein (GP) with critical hemostatic functions. Except for the rare severely affected patient with a gene deletion as etiology of the disease, the molecular basis for vWD is not known. We studied the molecular basis for vWD in a breeding colony of pigs with a disease closely resembling the human disorder. The porcine vWF gene is similar in size and complexity to its human counterpart, and no gross gene deletion or rearrangement was evident as the pathogenesis of porcine vWD. A restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) within the porcine vWF gene was identified with the restriction endonuclease HindIII, and 22/35 members of the pedigree were analyzed for the polymorphic site. Linkage between the vWF locus and the vWD phenotype was established with a calculated LOD score of 5.3 (1/200,000 probability by chance alone), with no crossovers identified. These findings indicate that porcine vWD is due to a molecular defect within (or near) the vWF locus, most likely representing a point mutation or small insertion/deletion within the vWF gene.

Animals↗

Proteolytically activated receptor-3. A member of an emerging gene family of protease receptors expressed on vascular endothelial cells and platelets.

Macromolecular assembly and generation of serine proteases on cellular surfaces is critically involved in regulation of hemostatic, inflammatory, or fibrinolytic pathways. The concept that a number of these serine proteases may effect cellular activation and proliferative responses has engendered an emerging paradigm focusing on the molecular mechanisms regulating cellular/protease interactions. Previous data suggest that some of these cellular responses are mediated by a novel class of G protein-coupled proteolytically activated receptors. Proteolytically activated receptor-3 (PAR-3) is the third member of this rapidly emerging gene family, all three of which (PAR-1, PAR-2, PAR-3) are known to co-cluster in the human genome, and are expressed on vascular endothelial cells, cells which critically regulate the hemostatic repertoire. This review will focus on the genetics of these receptors (emphasizing recent advances in the identification and characterization of PAR-3), review known structure/function similarities, and outline potential links in regulation of the hemostatic response by protease generation on the endothelial cell surface.

Animals↗