The dynamic inter-relationship between factor VIII and von Willebrand factor.

A monospecific heterologous antibody which specifically inhibited von Willebrand factor (W.F.) but had no factor VIII procoagulant (VIIIc) neutralising properties was insolubilised by attachement to sepharose beads. When fresh normal plasma was mixed with such beads, VIIIc, W.F. and factor VIII related antigen (VIIIAg) were removed in equal proportions, with the VIIIc lost from the plasma being detectable attached to the sepharose. This VIIIc was removed from the sepharose and largely recovered in the eluate after treatment with 0.2M calcium chloride. Subsequent addition of plasma resulted in a high transfer of VIIIc from the plasma onto the sepharose beads without accompanying W.F. and VIIIAg. Similar experiments, with initial treatment of antibody attached sepharose beads with serum, resulted in no independent segregation of VIIIc on subsequent addition of plasma. It is suggested that VIIIc and W.F. exist in plasma as separate, but attached molecules in a dynamic equilibrium. In serum, W.F. loses its ability to attach VIIIc.