Uptake of p.R1306Q-coated beads by macrophages. Fluoresbrite-YG microspheres (1 × 104 beads per well) coated with HSA, wt-rVWF, or p.R1306Q-rVWF (25 μg/L × 104 beads) were incubated with PMA-stimulated THP-1 cells adhered to glass coverslips for 1 hour at 37°C. Subsequently, cells were thoroughly washed to remove nondigested beads. The number of phagocytosed beads was quantified via microscopic analysis and is expressed as beads per cell (A). Data represent the mean ± standard deviation of 2 independent experiments, in which at least 3 microscopic fields were analyzed. (B-C) Representative images of wt-rVWF–coated and p.R1306Q-coated beads phagocytosed by THP-1 macrophages. (D-F) Scanning electron images of macrophages phagocytosing microspheres coated with p.R1306Q-rVWF. (D) The first moment of capturing a VWF-coated bead. (E) A 3-μm hole through which a bead has been phagocytosed. (F) A macrophage that has phagocytosed multiple beads.
