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Expression of von Willebrand factor in porcine vessels: Heterogeneity at the level of von Willebrand factor mRNA
Author(s) -
Bahnak Bruce R.,
Wu QingYu,
Coulombel Laure,
Assouline Zahra,
KerbiriouNabias Daniele,
Piétu Genevieve,
Drouet Ludovic,
Caen Jacques P.,
Meyer Dominique
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.1041380212
Subject(s) - von willebrand factor , messenger rna , microbiology and biotechnology , northern blot , biology , antigen , endothelium , endothelial stem cell , gene expression , immunology , in vitro , gene , endocrinology , platelet , biochemistry
The expression of the von Willebrand factor (vWF) gene by cultured endothelial cells from the porcine pulmonary artery, aorta, and lung was compared at the levels of messenger (m)RNA and antigen. Steady‐state levels of vWF mRNA were determined by dot‐blot analysis using a partial human vWF cDNA as the hybridization probe; vWF mRNA from cultured aortic endothelial cells, and vWF antigen secreted into the culture supernatants were barely detectable. In contrast, vWF mRNA and antigen from the pulmonary artery endothelial cells were approximately eight to nine times that demonstrated by aortic cells. Levels of vWF mRNA and antigen in cultured lung cells were intermediate of those found in the pulmonary artery and aorta and correlated with the estimated number of cells demonstrated to be of endothelial origin in the mixed cell populations grown from the lung. Differences between the levels of vWF mRNA found in cultured cells from the pulmonary artery and those found in the aorta were maintained in cells processed directly from these vessels. Correlation between the levels of vWF mRNA and antigen in endothelial cells from different vessels of the pig suggests that the differential control of vWF synthesis is at the level of transcription. Furthermore, maintenance in cultured cells of the difference in transcription rates that were observed in vivo suggests that vWF gene expression is not exclusively regulated through environmental factors.