Fig. 3

Role of soluble VWF in platelet adhesion from low to high shear conditions. Wt VWF biofunctionalised channels are perfused with washed platelets with (+, upper channels) or without (w/o, lower channels) addition of mobile wt VWF at distinct shear rates in the range of 1000 s^− 1 to 10,000 s^− 1. No differences are found between these experimental groups regarding the platelet SC at the low shear rates in the stated range (a). In contrast, at high shear rates platelets only adhere to the immobilised VWF in the presence of mobile VWF (b, c). Representative images out of five independent experiments for each group. Scale bars correspond to 200 μm. (d) The relative platelet surface coverage (SC) to wt VWF at a shear rate of 500 s^− 1 is plotted against distinct shear rates as indicated in presence (black columns, +) or absence of mobile wt VWF (grey columns, w/o). n = 5 for each experimental group, * indicates P < 0.05