Von Willebrand factor accelerates platelet adhesion and thrombus formation on a collagen surface in platelet-reduced blood under flow conditions

Plasma von Willebrand factor (VWF) has been identified as an indispensable factor for platelet adhesion and thrombus formation on a collagen surface under flow conditions. VWF binds to collagen and then tethers platelets to the collagen surface through interaction with platelet glycoprotein Ib and also contributes to the thrombus formation on the collagen surface. In the present study, we demonstrated that the addition of VWF/factor VIII complex or purified VWF (> 2 ristocetin cofactor activity units/mL) increased platelet adhesion to the collagen surface in platelet-reduced blood (∼ 5 × 104 platelets/μL) to the normal level. VWF had no stimulatory effect when it was allowed to bind to the collagen surface before blood flow was initiated. Addition of an excess of FITC (fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate)–abeled VWF to platelet-reduced blood under these flow conditions demonstrated that the VWF was mainly incorporated into the platelet aggregates. These results indicated that the supplemented VWF stimulates the platelet adhesion onto the collagen surface by enhancing platelet aggregation in the platelet-reduced condition. This also suggests a possibility that supplementation of VWF to individuals with thrombocytopenia might be effective for increasing their hemostatic potential.