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Background: von Willebrand factor (vWF) plays a crucial role in physiological hemostasis through platelet and subendothelial collagen adhesion. However, its role in shear‐induced platelet activation and functional alteration under non‐physiological conditions common to blood‐contacting medical devices (BCMDs) is not well investigated. Methods: Fresh healthy human blood was treated with an anti‐vWF antibody to block vWF–GPIbα interaction. Untreated blood was used as a control. They were exposed to three levels of non‐physiological shear stress (NPSS) (75, 125, and 175 Pa) through a shearing device with an exposure time of 0.5 s to mimic typical shear conditions in BCMDs. Flow cytometric assays were used to measure the expression levels of PAC‐1 and P‐Selectin and platelet aggregates for platelet activation and the expression levels of GPIbα, GPIIb/IIIa, and GPVI for receptor shedding. Collagen/ristocetin‐induced platelet aggregation capacity was characterized by aggregometry. Results: The levels of platelet activation and aggregates increased with increasing NPSS in the untreated blood. More receptors were lost with increasing NPSS, resulting in a decreased capacity of collagen/ristocetin‐induced platelet aggregation. In contrast, the increase in platelet activation and aggregates after exposure to NPSS, even at the highest level of NPSS, was significantly lower in treated blood. Nevertheless, there was no notable difference in receptor shedding, especially for GPIIb/IIIa and GPVI, between the two blood groups at the same level of NPSS. The block of vWF exacerbated the decreased capacity of collagen/ristocetin‐induced platelet aggregation. Conclusions: High NPSS activates platelets mainly by enhancing the vWF–GPIbα interaction. Platelet activation and receptor shedding induced by high NPSS likely occur through different pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions High mechanical shear stress (HMSS) generated by blood pumps during mechanical circulatory support induces blood damage (or function alteration) not only of blood cell components but also of plasma proteins.In the present study, fresh, healthy human blood was used to prime a blood circuit assisted by a CentriMag centrifugal pump at a flow rate of 4.5 L/min under three pump pressure heads (75, 150, and 350 mm Hg) for 4 h. Blood samples were collected for analyses of plasma‐free hemoglobin (PFH), von Willebrand factor (VWF) degradation and platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor shedding.The extent of all investigated aspects of blood damage increased with increasing cross‐pump pressure and duration. Loss of high‐molecular‐weight multimers (HMWM)‐VWF in Loop 2 and Loop 3 significantly increased after 2 h. PFH, loss of HMWM‐VWF, and platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor shedding showed a good linear correlation with mean shear stress corresponding to the three pump pressure heads.HMSS could damage red blood cells, cause pathological VWF degradation, and induce platelet activation and platelet receptor shedding. Different blood components can be damaged to different degrees by HMSS; VWF and VWF‐enhanced platelet activation may be more susceptible to HMSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]