The functional molecular weights of factor VIII activities in whole plasma as determined by electron irradiation

The effect of thrombin on the complex between factor VIII and von Willebrand factor

Purified human factor FVIII (FVIII; 6000-8000 U/mg) was radiolabeled and bound to immobilized von Willebrand factor (vWF). The complex was incubated with human thrombin. Thrombin induced a release of 65% of the radioactivity initially bound. Released FVIII fragments and fragments remaining bound during incubation with thrombin were analyzed using gel electrophoresis. This led to the following observations. Released fragments largely consisted of Mr-70000 and Mr-50000 fragments; Mr-90000 and Mr-80000 fragments were only found in the fractions remaining bound to vWF and decreased with time. In contrast to these digestion products of FVIII, the Mr-42000 heavy-chain fragment remained bound to vWF, comprising the larger part of the radioactivity after a 2-h incubation. No thrombin-induced cleavages were observed in vWF. Furthermore, vWF-coated wells preincubated with thrombin were still able to bind 125I-FVIII. These results implicate a new concept for the activation of vWF-bound FVIII. Activation is a multistep process in which several cleavages are necessary to produce and release a coagulant-active FVIII molecule (FVIIIa), which is probably an Mr-50000/70000 heterodimer. Inactivation of FVIIIa is likely to be the result of a nonproteolytic dissociation due to loss of the joining divalent cation(s).

Human factor VIII: purification from commercial factor VIII concentrate, characterization, identification and radiolabeling

Human factor VIII was purified from commercial factor VIII concentrate with a 12% yield. The specific coagulant activity of purified factor VIII was 8,000 units/mg. In the presence of SDS the purified factor VIII consisted of a variety of polypeptides on polyacrylamide gels, ranging between Mr 80,000 and Mr 208,000. In the absence of SDS the purified factor VIII showed an apparent molecular weight of 270,000 upon Sephadex G200 gel-filtration. The purified factor VIII could be activated by thrombin, which resulted in the disappearance of Mr 108,000-208,000 polypeptides in favor of an Mr 92,000 polypeptide. Treatment with factor Xa also activated factor VIII, whereas treatment with activated protein C resulted in the inactivation of coagulant activity. Coagulant-active 125I-factor VIII was prepared using a lactoperoxidase radioiodination procedure. This 125I-factor had the same characteristics as unlabeled factor VIII. All polypeptides could be precipitated with monoclonal antibodies directed against factor VIII. With 125I-factor VIII a pIapp of 5.7 was found in the presence of urea.

Thrombin binds to a high-affinity approximately 900 000-dalton site on human platelets

The functional sizes of the binding sites for thrombin on human platelets and isolated membranes have been determined by the technique of radiation inactivation: similar results were obtained. Independent studies using different radiation doses (0, 3, and 48 Mrad) and different thrombin concentrations (10(-10), 10(-8), and 10(-6) M) confirmed the presence of three binding sites with functional sizes of 900 000, 30 000, and 4000 daltons. The binding site of lowest apparent size (4000 daltons) probably corresponds to what has been termed nonspecific binding since its dissociation constant (2900 nM) is well outside the physiological range. The site of intermediate size (30 000 daltons) is also probably not involved in platelet activation since its dissociation constant (11 nM) is also beyond the concentration range required for activation, although it may be involved in other aspects of platelet-thrombin interaction. The sites with the largest functional size are probably important in platelet function since their dissociation constant (0.3 nM) is in the range required for platelet activation. The functional size of these sites (900 000 daltons) suggests that the high-affinity site for thrombin binding to platelets may involve a multimolecular complex of membrane components.

Measurement of factor VIIIRAg-1. A method for use in the Hyland laser nephelometer

Factor VIIIRAg was measured by laser nephelometry using a new diluent containing a citrate-carbonate buffer, pluronic polyol P94 and triton X100. No pre-treatment of the samples was required, the incubation time was 0.5 to 1.5 hours depending on the antiserum used, and the tests could be read during the following 4 hours (plasma) or 1.5 hours (intermediate purity F VIII). The CV for the assay was less than 10% for plasma or dilutions of plasma in which the minimum detectable amount of factor VIIIRAg was about 0.04 u/ml. A significant correlation was obtained between the nephelometric method and the Laurell rocket method using plasma, but agreement between the methods when therapeutic products were assayed was poor.