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Biomedical subjects

Z M Ruggeri

Publications and source records attributed to Z M Ruggeri.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Activation of platelets in blood perfusing angioplasty-damaged coronary arteries. Flow cytometric detection.

Fluorescence-activated flow cytometry has been used to investigate platelet activation in blood flowing through atherosclerotic coronary arteries after sustaining mechanical damage induced by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTCA). For flow cytometry, platelets and platelet-derived microparticles were identified by biotinylated anti-glycoprotein (GP) Ib monoclonal antibody (mAb) and a fluorophore, phycoerythrin-streptavidin. Activated platelets were detected by using a panel of fluoresceinated mAbs specific for activation-dependent platelet epitopes, including 1) activated GPIIb-IIIa complex (PAC1); 2) fibrinogen bound to platelet GPIIb-IIIa (9F9); 3) ligand-induced binding sites on GPIIIa (anti-LIBS1); and 4) P-selectin, an alpha-granule membrane protein expressed on the platelet surface after secretion (S12). The binding of antibodies to platelets was determined in blood that was sampled continuously via heparin-coated catheters from the coronary sinus in 1) patients before, during, and for 30 minutes after PTCA and 2) control patients undergoing coronary angiography without PTCA. Platelets in coronary sinus blood showed significant binding of mAbs that specifically detect activation epitopes associated with the GPIIb-IIIa complex (PAC1, anti-LIBS1, and 9F9) during and for 30 minutes after angioplasty in four of the five patients. The relative proportion of platelets positive for PAC1 and anti-LIBS1 increased from baseline values of 2.0 +/- 0.3% (mean +/- SD) and 2.0 +/- 0.5% to 18 +/- 14% and 28 +/- 14%, respectively, during PTCA or 30 minutes after PTCA (p < 0.01 in both cases). Binding with 9F9 was less prominent. The expression of P-selectin was detected in one of the five patients. By contrast, activation-specific mAbs failed to bind detectably with platelets obtained from 1) the peripheral blood during coronary angiography in eight patients or 2) coronary sinus blood obtained via catheter throughout control catheterization procedures in three patients or before PTCA in five. We conclude that circulating platelets become activated while flowing through PTCA-damaged stenotic coronary arteries and that this process of platelet activation is readily demonstrated by measuring the expression of activation-specific membrane GP epitopes by flow cytometric analysis.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

von Willebrand factor as a target for antithrombotic intervention.

The adhesive protein von Willebrand factor is essential for the formation of platelet thrombi under flow conditions characterized by high shear stress. This function requires the interaction with two distinct platelet receptors, the glycoprotein complexes Ib-IX-V and IIb-IIIa. Interaction with the former results in platelet activation, a necessary step for binding to the latter and supporting stable aggregation. The inhibition of von Willebrand factor binding to glycoprotein Ib can be achieved with small recombinant fragments containing the specific functional domain of the molecule that interacts with this platelet receptor. Such fragments may provide a new selective approach to antithrombotic therapy.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

[Further evaluation of GPIb binding domain of vWf by synthetic peptides].

We have already demonstrated that the GPIb binding domain of vWf resided at the regions corresponding to residues 474-488(G10) and 694-708(D5). Moreover, conformational change of vWf was suggested to be important for binding to GPIb. The effect of newly synthetized peptide combining G10 and D5 with lysin(G10-D5) on vWf binding to GPIb and platelet aggregation was studied. All synthetic peptides inhibited both vWf binding to GPIb, ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation and asialo vWf-induced platelet aggregation. G10-D5 possessed the most potent inhibitory activity in the interaction of vWf with GPIb. Only G10-D5 reacted with NMC-4 which recognized the epitope in appropriate conformation of vWf. These results indicate that G10-D5 retains some conformational structure and might be a good tool for anti-thrombotic agent.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Function of glycoprotein Ib alpha in platelet activation induced by alpha-thrombin.

We have obtained evidence that selective inhibition of high affinity thrombin-binding sites located in the amino-terminal domain of the membrane glycoprotein (GP) Ib alpha results in impaired platelet activation, as shown by abrogation or reduction of the following responses induced in normal platelets by exposure to less than 1 nM alpha-thrombin: (i) increase in intracellular ionized calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), (ii) release of dense granule content, (iii) binding of fibrinogen, (iv) aggregation. An anti-GP Ib monoclonal antibody, LJ-Ib 10, which does not inhibit von Willebrand factor binding to platelets, obliterated the high affinity alpha-thrombin-binding sites on normal platelets. Isotherms of alpha-thrombin binding to normal platelets treated with saturating amounts of the antibody were virtually identical to those obtained with platelets from a patient with classical Bernard-Soulier syndrome. In parallel with decreased binding of the agonist, this antibody caused 50% inhibition of the maximal extent of platelet aggregation and 90% inhibition of ATP release induced by 0.3 nM alpha-thrombin. By inhibiting alpha-thrombin binding to GP Ib, the antibody prevented the activation of platelets exposed to low concentrations of the agonist, as demonstrated by abrogation of the increase in intraplatelet ionized calcium concentration induced in control platelets by 0.18 nM alpha-thrombin; under these conditions, fibrinogen binding was inhibited by 84%. Therefore, there is a correlation between occupancy of the high affinity sites for alpha-thrombin on GP Ib alpha and platelet activation, secretion, and aggregation, suggesting that GP Ib alpha is part of an alpha-thrombin receptor relevant for platelet function.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1991

Identification of discontinuous von Willebrand factor sequences involved in complex formation with botrocetin. A model for the regulation of von Willebrand factor binding to platelet glycoprotein Ib.

We have used proteolytic fragments and overlapping synthetic peptides to define the domain of von Willebrand factor (vWF) that forms a complex with botrocetin and modulates binding to platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib. Both functions were inhibited by the dimeric 116-kDa tryptic fragment and by its constituent 52/48-kDa subunit, comprising residues 449-728 of mature vWF, but not by the dimeric fragment III-T2 which lacks amino acid residues 512-673. Three synthetic peptides, representing discrete discontinuous sequences within the region lacking in fragment III-T2, inhibited vWF-botrocetin complex formation; they corresponded to residues 539-553, 569-583, and 629-643. The 116-kDa domain, with intact disulfide bonds, exhibited greater affinity for botrocetin than did the reduced and alkylated 52/48-kDa molecule, and both fragments had significantly greater affinity than any of the inhibitory peptides. Thus, conformational attributes, though not strictly required for the interaction, contribute to the optimal functional assembly of the botrocetin-binding site. Accordingly, 125I-labeled botrocetin bound to vWF and to the 116-kDa fragment immobilized onto nitrocellulose but not to equivalent amounts of the reduced and alkylated 52/48-kDa fragment; it also bound to the peptide 539-553, but only when the peptide was immobilized onto nitrocellulose at a much greater concentration than vWF or the proteolytic fragments. These studies demonstrate that vWF interaction with GP Ib may be modulated by botrocetin binding to a discontinuous site located within residues 539-643. The finding that single point mutations in Type IIB von Willebrand disease are located in the same region of the molecule supports the concept that this domain may contain regulatory elements that modulate vWF affinity for platelets at sites of vascular injury.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Site-directed mutagenesis of a soluble recombinant fragment of platelet glycoprotein Ib alpha demonstrating negatively charged residues involved in von Willebrand factor binding.

We have expressed in mammalian cells a fragment (residues 1-302) of the alpha chain of platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib containing the von Willebrand factor- (vWF) binding site. The secreted soluble protein had an apparent molecular mass of 45 kDa and reacted with conformation-dependent monoclonal antibodies that bind only to native GP Ib, thus demonstrating its proper folding. After insolubilization on nitrocellulose membrane, the recombinant GP Ib alpha fragment bound soluble vWF in the presence of ristocetin or botrocetin with a dissociation constant similar to that exhibited by GP Ib.IX complex on platelets. Moreover, the interaction was blocked by anti-GP Ib monoclonal antibodies known to inhibit vWF binding to platelets. The sequence of GP Ib alpha between residues 269-287 has a strong net negative charge due to the presence of 10 glutamic or aspartic acid residues; 5 of these are contained in the sequence of a synthetic peptide (residues 251-279) previously shown to inhibit vWF-platelet interaction. In order to evaluate the possible functional role of these acidic residues, we employed site-directed mutagenesis to express two mutant GP Ib alpha fragments containing asparagine or glutamine instead of aspartic or glutamic acid, respectively. Mutant 1, with substitutions between residues 251-279, failed to bind vWF whether in the presence of ristocetin or botrocetin; in contrast, vWF binding to Mutant 2, with substitutions between residues 280-302, was nearly normal in the presence of ristocetin, but markedly decreased in the presence of botrocetin. Thus, mammalian cells transfected with a truncated cDNA sequence encoding the amino-terminal domain of GP Ib alpha synthesize a fully functional vWF-binding site; acidic residues in the sequence 252-287 are essential for normal function.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Independent assembly and secretion of a dimeric adhesive domain of von Willebrand factor containing the glycoprotein Ib-binding site.

von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a multimeric glycoprotein that supports platelet adhesion on thrombogenic surfaces as part of the normal hemostatic response to vascular injury. We have employed a domain-specific expression strategy to analyze the biosynthetic processing steps and minimum structural requirements for assembly of the platelet receptor glycoprotein Ib-binding domain of vWF. A chimeric cDNA that codes for the vWF signal peptide and a segment of vWF internal primary sequence, residues 441-730, directs the secretion of a functional vWF fragment from mammalian cells. The recombinant molecule intrinsically assembles through intermolecular disulfide bond formation into a dimeric adhesive domain without contributions from other regions of vWF, including propeptide, previously indicated as essential for vWF multimer assembly. Prevention of N-linked glycosylation on the recombinant domain does not impair dimer formation or the ability to support platelet aggregation. These results identify a minimum structural element for vWF subunit assembly and provide new insights into the processing steps to produce vWF multimers and adhesive domains.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Selective recognition of adhesive sites in surface-bound fibrinogen by glycoprotein IIb-IIIa on nonactivated platelets.

We demonstrate that unstimulated platelets attach to immobilized fibrinogen in a selective process mediated by the membrane glycoprotein (GP) complex IIb-IIIa (alpha IIb beta 3). The initial attachment, independent of platelet activation, is followed by spreading and irreversible adhesion even in the presence of activation inhibitors. Using fibrinogen fragments derived from plasmin digestion, we found that unstimulated platelets do not attach to immobilized fragment E, which contains an Arg-Gly-Asp sequence at A alpha 95-97, and adhere to fragments X and D, both containing the gamma 400-411 dodecapeptide adhesion sequence, less efficiently than to intact fibrinogen. Thus, the carboxyl terminus of the A alpha chain, missing in the "early" fragment X used in these studies, appears to be involved in the interaction of fibrinogen with unstimulated platelets. In contrast, activated platelets adhere to immobilized fibrinogen and fragments X, D, and E in a time-dependent and equivalent manner. Although activated platelets adhere to immobilized vitronectin, fibronectin, and von Willebrand factor through GP IIb-IIIa, unstimulated platelets fail to adhere to vitronectin and have only a limited capacity to adhere to fibronectin and von Willebrand factor. These results demonstrate that GP IIb-IIIa on unstimulated platelets displays a recognition specificity for attachment to immobilized adhesive proteins that is distinct from that seen following platelet activation. Thus, unstimulated platelets selectively interact with fibrinogen, and the initial attachment is followed by spreading and irreversible adhesion in the absence of exogenous agonists. This process may be regulated by plasmin cleavage of the fibrinogen A alpha chain and may play an important role during normal hemostasis and during the pathological development of thrombotic vascular occlusions.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1991

Functional modulation of the isolated glycoprotein Ib binding domain of von Willebrand factor expressed in Escherichia coli.

We have expressed in Escherichia coli the domain of von Willebrand factor (vWF) containing the binding site for platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib and used it to study the regulation of vWF-platelet interaction. The recombinant fragment, comprising residues 445-733 of the mature vWF subunit and designated rvWF445-733, did not have the native conformation of the corresponding domain in the intact molecule because, in order to prevent formation of random aggregates, the seven cysteine residues in the sequence were reduced and alkylated. Unlike native vWF, rvWF445-733 bound to GP Ib in the absence of any modulator, suggesting that the lack of disulfide bonds and/or carbohydrate side chains within this domain may expose platelet interaction sites. In the presence of two modulators, the glycopeptide ristocetin and the snake protein botrocetin, rvWF445-733 inhibited native vWF binding to GP Ib as well as platelet aggregation mediated by vWF, suggesting that both the fragment and the native molecule interact with the same site on platelets. This conclusion was also supported by the observation that the recombinant fragment competed with the binding to platelets of an anti-GP Ib monoclonal antibody known to inhibit vWF binding. Botrocetin formed a complex with rvWF445-733, but the affinity of this interaction was approximately 25-fold lower than with native vWF. However, the complexes of botrocetin with either rvWF445-733 or multimeric native vWF bound to GP Ib with similar dissociation constant. Therefore, conformational attributes of vWF regulate its affinity for botrocetin, but once the complex is formed, interaction with GP Ib is independent of native vWF conformation. These findings provide insights into the regulation of vWF-platelet interaction.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1991

Identification of a point mutation in type IIB von Willebrand disease illustrating the regulation of von Willebrand factor affinity for the platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib-IX receptor.

von Willebrand factor (vWF) supports platelet adhesion on thrombogenic surfaces by binding to platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) Ib in the GP Ib-IX receptor complex. This interaction is physiologically regulated so that it does not occur between circulating vWF and platelets but, rather, only at a site of vascular injury. The abnormal vWF found in type IIB von Willebrand disease, however, has a characteristically increased affinity for GP Ib and binds to circulating platelets. We have analyzed the molecular basis of this abnormality by sequence analysis of a type IIB vWF cDNA and have identified a single amino acid change, Trp550 to Cys550, located in the GP Ib-binding domain of the molecule comprising residues 449-728. Bacterial expression of recombinant fragments corresponding to this vWF domain yielded molecules that, whether containing a normal Trp550 or a mutant Cys550 residue, bound directly to GP Ib in the absence of modulators and with similar affinity. In contrast, mammalian cell expression of the same segment of sequence yielded molecules that, when containing the normal Trp550, did not bind to GP Ib directly but, like native vWF, bound in the presence of ristocetin. However, molecules containing the point mutation (Cys550) behaved like type IIB vWF--namely, bound to GP Ib even without ristocetin modulation and, in the presence of ristocetin, had 10-fold higher affinity than molecules with normal sequence. These results identify a region of vWF that, although not thought to be directly involved in binding to GP Ib, may modulate the interaction through conformational changes.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed1991

Isolation and chemical characterization of two structurally and functionally distinct forms of botrocetin, the platelet coagglutinin isolated from the venom of Bothrops jararaca.

Two distinct forms of botrocetin, the von Willebrand factor (vWF)-dependent platelet coagglutinin isolated from the venom of the snake Bothrops jararaca, were purified and characterized structurally and functionally. The apparent molecular mass of the one-chain botrocetin was 28 kDa before and 32 kDa after reduction of disulfide bonds, while that of the two-chain botrocetin was 27 kDa before and 15/14.5 kDa after reduction. Amino acid composition of the two species revealed a similar high content of potentially acidic residues (greater than 60 Asx and Glx residues/molecule) but significant differences in the content of Cys and Phe residues. The NH2-terminal sequence of the one-chain botrocetin was Ile-Ile/Val-Ser-Pro-Pro-Val-Cys-Gly-Asn-Glu-. Two constituent polypeptides of the two-chain botrocetin showed similar but different NH2-terminal sequences, distinct from that of the one-chain species: (alpha) Asp-Cys-Pro-Ser-Gly-Trp-Ser-Ser-Tyr-Glu- and (beta) Asp-Cys-Pro-Pro-Asp-Trp-Ser-Ser-Tyr-Glu-. The carbohydrate content of both species was less than 2% of the total mass, and the pI was 4.0-4.1 for the one-chain species, and 4.6, 5.3-5.4, and 7.7-7.8 for the two-chain species. No free sulfhydryl group was detected in each species. Both types of botrocetin were resistant to proteolysis at neutral pH. Incubation of 125I-labeled one-chain botrocetin with the crude venom solution resulted in no detectable structural change. On a weight basis, the two-chain botrocetin was 34 times more active than the one-chain form in promoting vWF binding to platelets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Structure and function of von Willebrand factor: relationship to von Willebrand's disease.

This review summarizes the current knowledge of the structure and function of von Willebrand factor and of the pathophysiologic features, diagnosis, classification, and treatment of von Willebrand's disease, the most common congenital bleeding disorder in humans. Specific regions of the von Willebrand factor subunit that are of functional importance have been identified. The structure of these functional domains of von Willebrand factor, as known to date, is described. A classification of von Willebrand's disease, based on the definition of structural and functional abnormalities of the molecule and initial characterization of genetic mutations, is discussed. With more precise characterization of molecular abnormalities, more selective therapeutic intervention for specific subtypes of von Willebrand's disease should eventuate.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1991

Heterogeneity of plasma von Willebrand factor multimers resulting from proteolysis of the constituent subunit.

In this report we demonstrate that proteolytic cleavage of the constituent subunit is one of the causes determining the heterogeneous size distribution of plasma von Willebrand factor (vWf) multimers. As shown by two-dimensional nonreduced/reduced agarose/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the structure of circulating vWf molecules may deviate from that represented by assemblage of a variable number of identical subunits. Indeed, even though the largest multimers in normal plasma appear to be composed predominantly of intact 225-kD subunits, those of intermediate and smaller size contain also 189-, 176-, and 140-kD proteolytic fragments. Different subunit composition patterns are repeated regularly in multimers of increasing molecular mass, yielding series of bands with similar structure. One of these series consists of molecules without evidence of proteolytic fragmentation, and its smallest member appears to be a dimer of 225-kD subunits. Type IIA von Willebrand disease, characterized by absence of the largest multimers, displays a pattern wherein the fragments of 176 and 140 kD are relatively increased, that of 189 kD is markedly decreased or absent, but the composition of individual multimers is otherwise similar to that of species seen also in normal plasma. In contrast to those in the circulation, all normal platelet vWf multimers contain only intact subunit. These results suggest that proteolytic cleavage of plasma vWf subunits occurs after release from cellular sites, whereas platelet vWf stored in alpha-granules is protected from proteolysis. These findings provide information that may be relevant for understanding the normal processing of vWf multimers and for elucidating the pathogenesis of some of the congenital and acquired structural abnormalities of this molecule.

Edetic Acid↗
PubMed1990

Interaction of integrins alpha v beta 3 and glycoprotein IIb-IIIa with fibrinogen. Differential peptide recognition accounts for distinct binding sites.

Glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa is the major fibrinogen receptor on platelets and participates in platelet aggregation at the site of a wound. Integrin alpha v beta 3, which contains an identical beta-subunit, is expressed on endothelial cells and also serves as a fibrinogen receptor. Here, we demonstrate by several criteria that purified GPIIb-IIIa and integrin alpha v beta 3 bind to distinct sites on fibrinogen. First, a plasmin-generated fragment of fibrinogen lacking the RGD sequence at residues 572-574 retained the ability to bind GPIIb-IIIa, but failed to bind integrin alpha v beta 3. Second, a monoclonal antibody which exclusively recognizes the RGD sequence at fibrinogen A alpha chain residues 572-574 abolished interaction between integrin alpha v beta 3 and fibrinogen, but had only a minimal effect on fibrinogen binding to GPIIb-IIIa. Finally, we show that the difference in recognition of sites on fibrinogen by these two integrins is probably a consequence of their remarkably different ligand binding properties. Peptides corresponding to fibrinogen gamma chain residues 400-411 effectively blocked RGD sequence and fibrinogen binding by GPIIb-IIIa, but had no effect on the ability of integrin alpha v beta 3 to bind these ligands. We also show that integrin alpha v beta 3 has a higher affinity than GPIIb-IIIa for a synthetic hexapeptide containing the RGD sequence. In fact, this RGD-containing peptide was 150-fold more effective at blocking fibrinogen binding to integrin alpha v beta 3 than to GPIIb-IIIa. Collectively, our results demonstrate that integrins alpha v beta 3 and GPIIb-IIIa display qualitative and quantitative differences in their ligand binding properties, as is evident by their ability to interact with synthetic peptides. The ultimate result of these differences is the recognition of distinct sites on fibrinogen by the two integrins. These observations may have relevance in the processes of hemostasis and wound healing.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Binding of the snake venom-derived proteins applaggin and echistatin to the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid recognition site(s) on platelet glycoprotein IIb.IIIa complex inhibits receptor function.

In the present report we describe the platelet-binding characteristics of applaggin and echistatin, potent inhibitors of fibrinogen-dependent platelet aggregation derived from Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus and Echis carinatus snake venoms, respectively. Both molecules bound to unstimulated platelets in a specific and saturable manner. At saturation there were 37,100 +/- 3,150 (mean, +/- S.D.) molecules of applaggin and 27,200 +/- 2,816 molecules of echistatin bound/platelet, with dissociation constants (Kd) of 1.4 +/- 0.6 x 10(-7) M and 4.9 +/- 1.2 x 10(-7) M, respectively. Stimulation of platelets with ADP (10 microM) + epinephrine (2 microM) resulted in an increase in the number of molecules bound at saturation to 42,300 +/- 2,105 for applaggin and 32,185 +/- 3,180 for echistatin, with a Kd of 5.6 +/- 0.3 x 10(-8) M and 1.8 +/- 0.6 x 10(-7) M, respectively. The synthetic peptide (Arg)8-Gly-Asp-Val was a competitive antagonist of applaggin and echistatin binding to unstimulated platelets (Ki = 25 and 36 microM, respectively). Applaggin and echistatin inhibited the binding of fibrinogen to stimulated platelets in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 of 9 and 25 nM, respectively. In concert with inhibition of platelet aggregation, applaggin and echistatin inhibited platelet secretion and synthesis of thromboxane A2 induced by ADP, collagen, and human gamma-thrombin. The monclonal antibody, LJ-CP3, which inhibits the binding of Arg-Gly-Asp containing ligands to platelet GPIIb.IIIa, also inhibited applaggin binding to unstimulated platelets in a competitive manner (Ki = 4.5 microM). Thus, applaggin and echistatin bind to the platelet GPIIb.IIIa complex, and the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence plays a central role in mediating this interaction.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1990

Luminographic detection of von Willebrand factor multimers in agarose gels and on nitrocellulose membranes.

Two methods for visualization of vWf multimers were compared with respect to sensitivity and detection of normal vWf and vWd variants IIA, IIB, IIC, IID, IIE, and IIF. Autoradiography and luminography after electrotransfer of vWf multimers onto nitrocellulose showed comparable sensitivity with vWf:Ag detectable after 1:500 dilution of normal plasma. The least sensitive method was luminography in agarose gels with vWf:Ag detectable after 1:300 dilution of normal plasma. No difference existed in the banding patterns of plasmas from patients with variant vWd.

Autoradiography↗
PubMed1990

von Willebrand factor competes with fibrin for occupancy of GPIIb:IIIa on thrombin-stimulated platelets.

We have investigated two major questions related to the molecular basis of interactions between the three-dimensional fibrin network and thrombin-stimulated human platelets. First, what are the roles played by glycoproteins (GP) Ib and IIb:IIIa in linking the fibrin clot tightly to the platelet surface? Second, does von Willebrand factor (vWF) modulate the extent of platelet-fibrin interactions? Quantitative fluorescence microscopy (microfluorimetry) has been used to determine the quantity of fluorescein-labeled fibrin bound to the surface of thrombin-stimulated, gel-filtered platelets (the supernatants of which contained small quantities of vWF) in the presence/absence of receptor-specific and vWF-specific monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), as well as exogenous vWF. A MoAb specific for the GPIIb:IIIa complex exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibition of fibrin binding, whereas a MoAb specific for GPIb was ineffective in this regard. Similarly, a MoAb that recognizes the N-terminal region of vWF involved in GPIb binding did not influence fibrin binding. In contrast, a MoAb that binds to a C-terminal region of vWF involved in GPIIb:IIIa recognition caused a specific, concentration-dependent increase in the quantity of platelet-bound fibrin. We also found that exogenous vWF caused a concentration-dependent decrease in fibrin binding. These results support the hypothesis that vWF and fibrin, both of which are multimeric adhesive ligands, compete for occupancy of the GPIIb:IIIa complex on thrombin-stimulated platelets.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗