Critical Extracellular Matrix Proteins Besides Collagen Bind Von Willebrand Factor

Introduction: Vascular endothelial injury exposes blood to many extracellular matrix proteins including collagen. Von Willebrand Factor (VWF) is a coagulation factor that binds platelets to collagen in the process of normal hemostasis. Collagen IV has been shown to bind VWF through the A1 domain. Many adhesive glycoproteins found in the extracellular matrix of vascular endothelium have been shown to induce hemostasis by binding coagulation factors. We hypothesized that in addition to collagen, other extracellular matrix proteins can bind VWF as well. We investigated VWF's interactions with four other extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins: laminin, fibronectin, thrombospondin, and vitronectin.