A new form of coagulation factor VII in plasma.

We have reported the existence of a novel form of coagulation factor VII - probably a factor VII-phospholipid complex - in plasma from pregnant women and men at risk for cardiovascular disease. We report here further observations on the presence and characteristics of this complex. Some apparently healthy individuals who, on testing by standard methods, have normal levels of factor VII activity achieve such levels by means of a phospholipase C-sensitive modification of (some of) their factor VII molecules. Their residual factor VII activity after phospholipase C treatment of plasma may be as low as 10-20 U/ml. Antiserum to the protein component of thromboplastin (apoprotein III) had no effect on the factor VII activity, whereas antiserum to factor VII effectively blocked both the total factor VII activity and the residual activity of factor VII after treatment of plasma with phospholipase C. These factor VII complexes precipitate with the VLDL/LDL fraction in lipoprotein precipitations.