title: Endothelial cell ADAMTS-13 and VWF: production, release, and VWF string cleavage.
abstract: Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC)-released ADAMTS-13 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin repeats) and HUVEC-secreted von Willebrand factor (VWF) strings were investigated under static conditions that allow the accumulation and analysis of ADAMTS-13. The latter was released constitutively from HUVECs and cleaved the secreted and cell-anchored VWF strings progressively during 15 minutes in Ca(2+)/Zn(2+)-containing buffer. HUVEC ADAMTS13 mRNA expression was approximately 1:100 of VWF monomeric subunit expression. In contrast to multimeric VWF stored within Weibel-Palade bodies and secreted rapidly in response to cell stimulation, ADAMTS-13 was released directly from the Golgi to the cell exterior without an organelle storage site. The constitutive release of ADAMTS-13 continued at the same slow rate regardless of the presence or absence of histamine stimulation of HUVECs. Consequently, the percentage of VWF strings cleaved by ADAMTS-13 at VWF Y(1605)-M(1606) decreased as the rate of VWF string secretion was increased by cell stimulation. Blockade of HUVEC ADAMTS-13 activity by antibodies to different ADAMTS-13 domains made it possible to detect the attachment of ADAMTS-13 all along the lengths of HUVEC-secreted VWF strings. Constitutive ADAMTS-13 released from endothelial cells may contribute to the maintenance of cell surfaces free of hyperadhesive VWF multimeric strings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6500 Main St, Houston, TX 77030, USA. nturner@rice.edu
authors.forename: Nancy A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nolasco
authors.forename: Zaverio M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Ruggeri
authors.forename: Joel L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Moake
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071120:ADAMTS13 Protein; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000071120:ADAMTS13 Protein; C099604:ADAMTS13 protein, human