Multiple Molecular forms of Factor VIII Antigen in Normal Individuals and von Willebrand’s Disease Patients
Factor VIII antigen is present in normal individuals in multiple molecular forms which can be separated according to size. The smaller forms have little or no ristocetin co-factor activity. In order to evaluate the possibility that Factor VIII antigen forms of large size may be an artifact of in vitro aggregation, we have ultracentrifuged plasma on a 20% sucrose cushion at 37 C for 10 min at 254,000 xg (peak). The rate of clearing of Factor VIII antigen was compared to that of other plasma proteins. The results indicate that Factor VIII-related antigen forms of high S exist even when plasma is maintained at physiological temperature and analyzed with minimal delay, suggesting that these larger molecular forms also exist as such in vivo.In von Willebrand’s disease (vWd) all forms of Factor VIII antigen may be present but decreased in quantity (Type I) or large forms may be missing with smaller forms present in normal or increased quantities (Type II). Factor VIII antigen was isolated from plasma of three patients with Type I and three patients with Type II vWd by counter immunoelectrophoresis. The Factor VIII antigen was then reduced and electrophoresed on SDS-containing Polyacrylamide gels. The presence of carbohydrate was evaluated by staining with perchloric acid-Schiff’s reagent (PAS). The 210,000 MW Factor VIII antigen subunit from each patient was PAS-positive. Though subtle changes in carbohydrate content or composition could not be evaluated by this technique, a total defect of glycosylation is unlikely in this sample of vWd patients.