Platelet-Mediated Mechanical Tensile Force Influences ADAMTS13 Localization and Regulation Of Thrombus Development At The Site Of Platelet Accumulation

The multimeric glycoprotein von Willebrand factor (VWF) mediates platelet adhesion and aggregation at the site of vessel injury. The adhesive property of VWF is regulated by its multimer length, such that ultra large VWF (ULVWF) multimers, newly released from the endothelium, have greater hemostatic activity. multimer size is regulated by the metalloprotease ADAMTS13, which cleaves the A2 domain to reduce VWF multimer size and functional activity. static conditions, VWF maintains a globular conformation and the ADAMTS13 cleavage site is inaccessible. However, the exposure of endothelial-anchored VWF to tensile forces mediated by platelets and hydrodynamic shear enhance the cleavage of VWF by ADAMTS13. releases VWF of optimal hemostatic length from the endothelium into the plasma.

We have previously reported using a flow chamber model which demonstrates that in addition to regulating VWF length and activity at the site of release, ADAMTS13 also associates with VWF at the site of thrombus formation. observed that under conditions of high and very high shear, ADAMTS13 reduced the size of thrombus volume., multi-coloured immunostaining revealed that ADAMTS13 co-localized with VWF and platelets at the top and middle layers of the thrombus, in the presence of very high shear.

To better understand the mechanism by which ADAMTS13 regulates thrombus size in our flow chamber model, we assessed the contribution of platelet tensile force to the localization of ADAMTS13 at the site of the thrombus. this model, the contributions of platelet GPIb, GPIIbIIIa, and P-selectin to ADAMTS13 localization were observed.

Full length mouse VWF and ADAMTS13 cDNA were cloned into pCIneo and pcDNA3.1 plasmid, respectively. The gain of platelet GPIb binding mutation V1316M, and loss of GPIIbIIIa binding mutation (RGD to RGG) were introduced by site-directed-mutagenesis. mCherry was cloned at the C terminus of ADAMTS13 with a 12AA linker. Recombinant mVWF and mADAMTS13-mCherry proteins were produced via HEK293T cells by calcium phosphate transient transfection. mADAMTS13-mCherry (2 U/mL) and wild type or mutant mVWF (4 U/mL) was added to whole blood obtained from VWF^-/-/ADAMTS13^-/- double knockout mice. Whole blood containing DiOC₆-labeled platelets was perfused over a collagen coated flow chamber at very high shear (7500s-1). The role of P-selectin was also analyzed by adding a P-selectin blocking antibody to blood obtained from ADAMTS13^-/-knockout mice prior to the flow chamber experiment. After the perfusion, thrombi were fixed and immunostaining was performed to further analyze the distribution of platelets, VWF and ADAMTS13.

As previously reported, ADAMTS13 localization was observed in the top and middle layers of the thrombus in the presence of wild type mVWF. The GPIb gain-of-function mutation V1316M increased both platelet (126%, p<0.0001) and VWF (190% and p<0.0001) accumulation at the thrombus site. ADAMTS13 localization was also increased (135%, p<0.001) relative to the binding to wild type VWF. Interestingly, with this gain-of-function VWF mutant, ADAMTS13 localization was found throughout the entire thrombus. In contrast, the GPIIbIIIa RGD binding mutant demonstrated decreased VWF (56%, p<0.01), and ADAMTS13 (82%, p<0.05) intensity, although platelet intensity was unaffected. to wild type, ADAMTS13 localized to the middle and top layers of the thrombus. Finally, inhibition of P-selectin significantly decreased VWF (46%, p<0.01) and ADAMTS13 (34%, p<0.01) localization to the thrombus, but again did not significantly alter platelet binding.

These studies demonstrate the central role of platelet-mediated mechanical tensile force on the regulation of thrombus growth at the site of platelet accumulation. Enhanced tensile force induced by increased GPIb binding resulted in increased ADAMTS13 localization, while reduced tensile force through loss of GPIIbIIIa or P-selectin binding decreased ADAMTS13 localization. This suggests that ADAMTS13 activity at the site of thrombus formation is maintained by the combination of hydrodynamic shear force and platelet tethering. aggregate, these studies suggest that under conditions of shear, ADAMTS13 regulates thrombus size by preserving the hemostatic function of the thrombus, and preventing dysregulated thrombus growth.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.