Cloning, expression, and functional characterization of the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13).
Deficient von Willebrand factor (VWF) degradation has been associated with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). In hereditary TTP, the specific VWF-cleaving protease (VWF-cp) is absent or functionally defective, whereas in the nonfamilial, acquired form of TTP, an autoantibody inhibiting VWF-cp activity is found transiently in most patients. The gene encoding for VWF-cp has recently been identified as a member of the metalloprotease family and designated ADAMTS13, but the functional activity of the ADAMTS13 gene product has not been verified. To establish the functional activity of recombinant VWF-cp, we cloned the complete cDNA sequence in a eukaryotic expression vector and transiently expressed the encoded recombinant ADAMTS13 in HEK 293 cells. The expressed protein degraded VWF multimers and proteolytically cleaved VWF to the same fragments as those generated by plasma VWF-cp. Furthermore, recombinant ADAMTS13-mediated degradation of VWF multimers was entirely inhibited in the presence of plasma from a patient with acquired TTP. These data show that ADAMTS13 is responsible for the physiologic proteolytic degradation of VWF multimers.
Plaimauer
Barbara
B
Baxter BioScience, Biomedical Research Center, Orth, Austria.
Zimmermann
Klaus
K
Völkel
Dirk
D
Antoine
Gerhard
G
Kerschbaumer
Randolf
R
Jenab
Pegah
P
Furlan
Miha
M
Gerritsen
Helen
H
Lämmle
Bernhard
B
Schwarz
Hans Peter
HP
Scheiflinger
Friedrich
F
D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000071120:ADAMTS13 Protein; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D019281:Dimerization; D006801:Humans; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000201:enzymology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D051722:ADAM Proteins; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D000071120:ADAMTS13 Protein; C099604:ADAMTS13 protein, human