The separation of Willebrand factor from factor VIII-related antigen.

The three activities associated with factor VIII--coagulant (VIII:C), antigenic (VIIIR:Ag), and platelet agglutinating or Willebrand factor (VIIIR:WF)--have been separated by sequential antibody affinity chromatography, utilizing a rabbit antibody to factor VIII and a spontaneous human antibody to VIII:C. Normal plasma differentially lost its factor VIII-related antigen following passage over the rabbit antibody column. Subsequent passage of the VIIIR:Ag-depleted plasma over the human antibody column resulted in the loss of VIII:C activity, with retention of the Willebrand factor activity, antigen being partially recovered from the heterologous antibody column. These experiments demonstrate that it is possible to separate two of the factor VIII activities, VIIIR:Ag and VIIIR:WF, which are usually regarded as properties of a single molecule.