Trauma and Shock-Induced Microvascular Dysregulation and Coagulopathy

Program Director/Principal Investigator (Last, First, Middle): Kozar RA/ Dong JF Project Summary Trauma is the leading cause of preventable death, with the majority of deaths caused by hemorrhage and associated complications due to injury to the vasculature (hemorrhagic shock [HS]). While hemorrhage results

in the rapid loss of coagulation factors and platelets, increasing evidence suggests that secondary coagulopathy develops from a trauma-induced hypercoagulable state that rapidly turns into consumptive coagulopathy, and is an integral part of microvascular endotheliopathy due to HS-induced hypoperfuson and tissue ischemia. The

endotheliopathy creates an inflammatory and oxidative stress environment where endothelial cells (ECs) are activated and their barrier function disrupted. A hallmark of this microvascular dysregulation is loss of the endothelial glycocalyx, a protective layer of carbohydrates anchored to the endothelium by syndecan-1. The

glycocalyx shields endothelial cells from blood and plasma factors and hosts anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, and anti-oxidative stress molecules. It is lost following HS with shedding of the syndecan-1 ectodomain by the metalloprotease ADAM-17. Loss the of glycocalyx makes the anti-coagulant and anti-inflammatory endothelium

highly procoagulant and proinflammatory. The critical question is what triggers shedding and its pathological consequences. Our recent data suggests causal roles of the adhesive ligand von Willebrand factor (VWF) and extracellular vesicles (EVs) in endotheliopathy and coagulopathy secondary to trauma and resultant HS. In this

study, we propose to test the hypotheses that: 1) syndecan-1 shedding with progressive endothelial dysregulation caused by release of hyperadhesive VWF and pathologic EVs, 2) syndecan-1 shedding is triggered by clustering with ADAM-17 in membrane lipid rafts, and 3) exposure of the receptor-binding A1 domain on

hyperadhesive VWF enhances endotheliopathy by tethering inflammatory cells and EVs to the glycocalyx- stripped endothelium. We further hypothesize that the synergistic interplay between glycocalyx loss, hyperadhesive VWF, and EVs can be blocked to prevent endotheliopathy. We propose to test these hypotheses

by analyzing plasma samples and clinical information from trauma patients, defining pathways leading to syndecan-1 shedding and the structural basis of VWF hyperadhesive activity in-vitro, and testing new and innovative therapeutic strategies in mouse models of HS in the following three aims: Aim 1: To determine the

progressive microvascular dysregulation culminating in blood failure of injured patients with hemorrhagic shock; Aim 2: To study the pathway of syndecan-1 shedding and the structure of hyperadhesive VWF in-vitro, and Aim 3: To test new therapeutic agents to mitigate trauma-induced microvascular dysregulation in mouse

models of HS. Our proposal puts forth innovative concepts and novel mechanisms that offer a new paradigm for the reversal of endotheliopathy and coagulopathy that can establish the foundation for the development of innovative therapeutics as resuscitation adjuncts to further reduce hemorrhagic shock-related morbidity and

mortality. OMB No. 0925-0001/0002 (Rev. 03/2020 Approved Through 02/28/2023) Page Continuation Format Page