Clearance of VWF by hepatic macrophages is critical for the protective effect of ADAMTS13 in sickle cell anemia mice

• Single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics reveal transcriptionally distinct hepatic macrophage populations in SCA mice.

• Efficient clearance of VWF by macrophages or Kupffer cells in the liver is critical for the protective effect of ADAMTS13 in SCA mice.

Although it is caused by a single-nucleotide mutation in the β-globin gene, sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a systemic disease with complex, incompletely elucidated pathologies. The mononuclear phagocyte system plays critical roles in SCA pathophysiology. However, how heterogeneous populations of hepatic macrophages contribute to SCA remains unclear. Using a combination of single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics via multiplexed error-robust fluorescence in situ hybridization, we identified distinct macrophage populations with diversified origins and biological functions in SCA mouse liver. We previously found that administering the von Willebrand factor (VWF)–cleaving protease ADAMTS13 alleviated vaso-occlusive episode in mice with SCA. Here, we discovered that the ADAMTS13-cleaved VWF was cleared from the circulation by a Clec4f⁺Marco^high macrophage subset in a desialylation-dependent manner in the liver. In addition, sickle erythrocytes were phagocytized predominantly by Clec4f⁺Marco^high macrophages. Depletion of macrophages not only abolished the protective effect of ADAMTS13 but exacerbated vaso-occlusive episode in mice with SCA. Furthermore, promoting macrophage-mediated VWF clearance reduced vaso-occlusion in SCA mice. Our study demonstrates that hepatic macrophages are important in the pathogenesis of SCA, and efficient clearance of VWF by hepatic macrophages is critical for the protective effect of ADAMTS13 in SCA mice.