Role of von Willebrand factor for the onset of arterial thrombosis.

Von Willebrand factor, a multimeric plasma protein released from either vascular endothelial cells or platelets, has been recently shown to play a crucial role in platelet thrombosis at sites exposed to high shear stress. Since VWF is only stored in two cellular components in normal adults, platelets and endothelial cells, the local release of VWF is an important regulatory mechanism of local thrombogenicities. Since endothelial cells are a larger source of plasma VWF, plasma VWF concentration can be used as an indicator of certain endothelial functions. Moreover, VWF is now being considered as a new target for the development of antithrombotic agents because the inhibition of VWF-mediated thrombosis may result in selective inhibition of platelet thrombosis at sites exposed to high shear stress, such as in atherosclerotic stenotic coronary arteries, without bleeding complications.