SDS
Monkey Von Willebrand Factor ELISA kit
Catalog #: E09V0001
Sample Type: Biological samples

 

Other Names

VWF; F8VWF; VWD; von Willebrand antigen 2; Von Willebrand Factor 

Research Area

Cardiovascular, Cancer, Stem cell

Background

Von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a blood glycoprotein involved in hemostasis. It is deficient or defective in von Willebrand disease and is involved in a large number of other diseases, including thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, Heyde's syndrome, and possibly hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Increased plasma levels in a large number of cardiovascular, neoplastic, and connective tissue diseases are presumed to arise from adverse changes to the endothelium, and may contribute to an increased risk of thrombosis. on Willebrand factor's primary function is binding to other proteins, in particular factor VIII, and it is important in platelet adhesion to wound sites.It is not an enzyme and, thus, has no catalytic activity. vWF binds to a number of cells and molecules. The most important ones are: Factor VIII is bound to vWF while inactive in circulation; factor VIII degrades rapidly when not bound to vWF. Factor VIII is released from vWF by the action of thrombin. vWF binds to collagen, e.g., when it is exposed in endothelial cells due to damage occurring to the blood vessel. Endothelium also releases vWF which forms additional links between the platelets' glycoprotein Ib/IX/V and the collagen fibrils vWF binds to platelet gpIb when it forms a complex with gpIX and gpV; this binding occurs under all circumstances, but is most efficient under high shear stress vWF binds to other platelet receptors when they are activated, e.g., by thrombin vWF plays a major role in blood coagulation. Therefore, vWF deficiency or dysfunction (von Willebrand disease) leads to a bleeding tendency, which is most apparent in tissues having high blood flow shear in narrow vessels. From studies it appears that vWF uncoils under these circumstances, decelerating passing platelets. Recent research also suggests that von Willebrand factor is involved in the formation of blood vessels themselves, which would explain why some people with von Willebrand disease develop vascular malformations (predominantly in the digestive tract) that can bleed excessively.