Jose Lopez, MD

Functional interactions between von Willebrand factor and lipoproteins: Implications for microvascular function and atherosclerosis

In this lecture, I will describe the biochemistry and physics of VWF self-association, a process that produces strands and fibers with high adhesive capacity for platelets. I will also describe the experiments that showed that VWF self-association is attenuated by plasma high-density lipoproteins and promoted by low-density lipoproteins, in particular the small-dense fractions of LDL. I will also describe experiments showing the consequences of these interactions for microvascular flow, post-inflammatory atherosclerosis, and aortic stenosis.

Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Adjunct Professor, Department of Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle Washington

Full Member Bloodworks Northwest Research Institute

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