Von Willebrand factor promotes wound healing

Abstract

In this issue of Blood, Ishihara et al report an entirely novel role for von Willebrand factor (VWF) in promoting wound healing.1 In particular, they demonstrate that the heparin-binding domain (HBD) within the A1 domain of VWF can bind to a variety of different growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB). Following a dermal skin injury, delayed wound healing, accompanied by reduced local growth factor concentrations and impaired local angiogenesis, was observed in VWF-/- mice compared with controls (see figure). In contrast, treatment of skin wounds with fibrin matrices functionalized with VWF HBD complexed with VEGF-A and PDGF-BB resulted in improved wound healing in both VWF-/- mice and type 2 diabetic mice. Collectively, these exciting findings suggest that VWF plays a critical role in recruiting growth factors to sites of injury and thereby in regulating tissue repair.