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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Platelet Adhesion and Aggregation Under Flow using Microfluidic Flow Cells
Published on: October 27, 2009
Platelet adhesion to multimeric and dimeric von Willebrand factor and to collagen type III preincubated with von
Y P Wu1, H H van Breugel, H Lankhof
1Department of Hematology, University Hospital, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Abstract:
As part of a systematic study of platelet interaction with adhesive proteins under flow conditions, we studied platelet adhesion to multimeric and dimeric von Willebrand factor (vWF) coated to glass. vWF-dependent adhesion to collagen type III was studied for comparison. Adhesion to glass-coated vWF and vWF-mediated adhesion to collagen type III were in many respects similar. Both showed no decrease at increasing shear rates and a decline to 50% of maximum with a low-molecular-weight multimeric fraction. Adhesion to glass-coated vWF was partially inhibited by heparin and completely inhibited by prostaglandin I(2) and anti-glycoprotein (GP) Ib and anti-GPIIb-IIIa antibodies. vWF-dependent adhesion to collagen was not inhibited by heparin, was partially inhibited by anti-GPIIb-IIIa, and was completely inhibited by prostaglandin I(2) and anti-GPIb. Recombinant dimeric vWF was made by deletion of the propeptide and expression in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Adhesion was 50% of that with plasma vWF, and larger concentrations of dimeric vWF were required. Adhesion to dimeric vWF was optimal at 1500 s(-1), with a gradual decrease at higher shear rates. We conclude that adhesion to collagen type III is strongly but not completely determined by the adhesive properties of vWF.
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