This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by O’Donnell, J. Articles by Laffan, M. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by O’Donnell, J. Articles by Laffan, M. A. Related Collections Deep vein thrombosis Coagulation Thrombophilia Thrombosis risk factors

(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2002;22:335.)
© 2002 American Heart Association, Inc.

Thrombosis

Amount of H Antigen Expressed on Circulating von Willebrand Factor Is Modified by ABO Blood Group Genotype and Is a Major Determinant of Plasma von Willebrand Factor Antigen Levels

James O’Donnell; Frank E. Boulton; Richard A. Manning; Michael A. Laffan

From the Department of Haematology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London, and the National Blood Service (F.E.B.), Southampton, UK.

Correspondence to Dr James O’Donnell, Department of Haematology, Hammersmith Hospital/ICSM, DuCane Road, East Acton, London W12 ONN, UK. E mail james.o'donnell{at}virgin.net

To investigate whether the effect of ABO blood group on plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) levels is mediated by the ABH antigenic determinants carried on N-linked glycans of vWF, we studied 158 group A and group O healthy volunteers. vWF antigen (vWF:Ag) and factor VIII antigen (FVIII:Ag) levels were highest in A¹A¹ individuals and higher in A¹O¹ than in A²O¹ or O¹O¹ individuals. Plasma A transferase activity and the amount of A antigen expressed per unit vWF (AvWF) were significantly higher in A¹A¹ than in A¹O¹ individuals and higher in A¹O¹ than in A²O¹ individuals. AvWF was correlated strongly with plasma levels of A transferase activity. Thus, we have clearly demonstrated a direct relationship between ABO genotype, A transferase expression, and the amount of A antigen expressed on circulating vWF. H antigen expression per unit vWF (HvWF) was highest in group O individuals. Among group A individuals, the pattern of HvWF expression was A²O¹>A¹O¹>A¹A¹. In group O and group A²O¹ individuals, HvWF was inversely correlated with plasma vWF levels. In contrast, among group A¹A¹ and A¹O¹ individuals, there was no relationship between AvWF and plasma vWF levels. These findings suggest that it is H antigen expression that mediates the ABO effect on plasma vWF concentration.

Key Words: ABO blood group • von Willebrand factor • factor VIII

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D.-A. Tregouet, S. Heath, N. Saut, C. Biron-Andreani, J.-F. Schved, G. Pernod, P. Galan, L. Drouet, D. Zelenika, I. Juhan-Vague, et al. Common susceptibility alleles are unlikely to contribute as strongly as the FV and ABO loci to VTE risk: results from a GWAS approach Blood, May 21, 2009; 113(21): 5298 - 5303. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Gallinaro, M. G. Cattini, M. Sztukowska, R. Padrini, F. Sartorello, E. Pontara, A. Bertomoro, V. Daidone, A. Pagnan, and A. Casonato A shorter von Willebrand factor survival in O blood group subjects explains how ABO determinants influence plasma von Willebrand factor Blood, April 1, 2008; 111(7): 3540 - 3545. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. A. J. McKinnon, A. C. K. Chion, A. J. Millington, D. A. Lane, and M. A. Laffan N-linked glycosylation of VWF modulates its interaction with ADAMTS13 Blood, March 15, 2008; 111(6): 3042 - 3049. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. C. Sousa, J. M. Anicchino-Bizzacchi, M. F. Locatelli, V. Castro, and M. L. Barjas-Castro The relationship between ABO groups and subgroups, factor VIII and von Willebrand factor Haematologica, February 1, 2007; 92(2): 236 - 239. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. G. Kang, H. J. Ahn, G. S. Kim, T. S. Hahm, J. J. Lee, M. S. Gwak, and S. J. Choi The Hemostatic Profiles of Patients with Type O and Non-O Blood After Acute Normovolemic Hemodilution with 6% Hydroxyethyl Starch (130/0.4) Anesth. Analg., December 1, 2006; 103(6): 1543 - 1548. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S. O'Donnell, T. A. J. McKinnon, J. T. B. Crawley, D. A. Lane, and M. A. Laffan Bombay phenotype is associated with reduced plasma-VWF levels and an increased susceptibility to ADAMTS13 proteolysis Blood, September 15, 2005; 106(6): 1988 - 1991. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. T. B. Crawley, J. K. Lam, J. B. Rance, L. R. Mollica, J. S. O'Donnell, and D. A. Lane Proteolytic inactivation of ADAMTS13 by thrombin and plasmin Blood, February 1, 2005; 105(3): 1085 - 1093. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]