Immunologic characterization of canine factor VIII.

Canine factor VIII (FVIII) preparations isolated from cryoprecipitates by gel chromatography were pooled to provide one batch of antigen for simultaneous immunization of two rabbits and a goat. The goat and rabbit antisera had similar FVIII-neutralizing titers, but the latter had seven to ten times more precipitating titer for FVIII-related antigen (FVIII-RA). Absorption with material low in FVIII had little effect on the precipitating titer of the rabbit antibody, but it abolished the precipitating capacity of the goat antibody and caused a 20% reduction in the neutralizing titer of both antisera. Results obtained in the Laurell assay with the two different antisera were similar. This finding was true whether the FVIII-RA levels were reduced, normal, or elevated, as well as for heat-treated and frozen-thawed plasmas. Both antisera were neutralized by the same canine plasma to a similar extent. Analysis of FVIII concentrates by crossed immunoelectrophoresis suggested that canine FVIII-RA was heterogeneous, with slow-and fast-migrating components. The presence of more than one antigenic site on the FVIII complex was also supported by the disparity between the FVIII-neutralizing and -precipitating titers of goat antiserum and by the demonstration that FVIII-RA, FVIII-neutralizing antigen, and procoagulant activity varied independently.