VONWILLEBRAND-FACTOR MEDIATES PLATELET-ADHESION TO VIRALLY INFECTED ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS

von Willebrand factor is an adhesive glycoprotein critical to normal h emostasis. It is stored in the Weibel-Palade body of endothelial cells and upon release may mediate platelet adhesion. Herpesvirus-infected endothelium is known to be prothrombotic and to support enhanced plate let adherence. We previously identified P-selectin as a monocyte recep tor that is translocated from the Weibel-Palade body to the endothelia l cell surface in response to the local generation of thrombin on herp esvirus infected cells. In this study, we show that viral injury to va scular endothelial cells induces secretion of von Willebrand factor wh ich mediates enhanced platelet adhesion to these cells.