Factor VIII

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Coagulation factor VIII, procoagulant component
Fviii 2R7E.png
PDB rendering based on 2R7E.
Available structures
PDB Ortholog search: PDBe, RCSB
Symbols F8 ; AHF; DXS1253E; F8B; F8C; FVIII; HEMA
External IDs OMIM300841 MGI88383 HomoloGene49153 ChEMBL: 3143 GeneCards: F8 Gene
RNA expression pattern
PBB GE F8 205756 s at tn.png
More reference expression data
Species Human Mouse
Entrez 2157 14069
Ensembl ENSG00000185010 ENSMUSG00000031196
UniProt P00451 Q06194
RefSeq (mRNA) NM_000132 NM_001161373
RefSeq (protein) NP_000123 NP_001154845
Location (UCSC) Chr HG1497_PATCH:
154 – 154.2 Mb
Chr X:
75.17 – 75.38 Mb
PubMed search [1] [2]

Factor VIII (FVIII) is an essential blood-clotting protein, also known as anti-hemophilic factor (AHF). In humans, factor VIII is encoded by the F8 gene.[1][2] Defects in this gene results in hemophilia A, a recessive X-linked coagulation disorder.[3] Factor VIII is produced in liver sinusoidal cells and endothelial cells outside of the liver throughout the body. This protein circulates in the bloodstream in an inactive form, bound to another molecule called von Willebrand factor, until an injury that damages blood vessels occurs.[4] In response to injury, coagulation factor VIII is activated and separates from von Willebrand factor. The active protein (sometimes written as coagulation factor VIIIa) interacts with another coagulation factor called factor IX. This interaction sets off a chain of additional chemical reactions that form a blood clot.[4]


People with high levels of factor VIII are at increased risk for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.[6] Copper is a required cofactor for factor VIII and copper deficiency is known to increase levels of factor VIII.[7]


The gene for factor VIII is located on the X chromosome (Xq28). The gene for factor VIII presents an interesting primary structure, as another gene is embedded in one of its introns.[8]


FVIII is a glycoprotein procofactor. Although the primary site of release in humans is ambiguous, it is synthesized and released into the bloodstream by the vascular, glomerular, and tubular endothelium, and the sinusoidal cells of the liver.[9] Hemophilia A has been corrected by liver transplantation.[10] Transplanting hepatocytes was ineffective, but liver endothelial cells were effective.[10]

In the blood, it mainly circulates in a stable noncovalent complex with von Willebrand factor. Upon activation by thrombin, (factor IIa), it dissociates from the complex to interact with factor IXa in the coagulation cascade. It is a cofactor to factor IXa in the activation of factor X, which, in turn, with its cofactor factor Va, activates more thrombin. Thrombin cleaves fibrinogen into fibrin which polymerizes and crosslinks (using factor XIII) into a blood clot.

No longer protected by vWF, activated FVIII is proteolytically inactivated in the process (most prominently by activated protein C and factor IXa) and quickly cleared from the blood stream.

Factor VIII is not affected by liver disease. In fact, levels usually are elevated in such instances.[11][12]

Therapeutic use[edit]

FVIII concentrated from donated blood plasma (Aafact or Alphanate, Monoclate-P®), or alternatively recombinant FVIII can be given to hemophiliacs to restore hemostasis.

The transfer of a plasma byproduct into the blood stream of a patient with hemophilia often led to the transmission of diseases such as hepatitis B and C and HIV before purification methods were improved.

Antibody formation to factor VIII can also be a major concern for patients receiving therapy against bleeding; the incidence of these inhibitors is dependent of various factors, including the factor VIII product itself.[13]

Contamination scandal[edit]

In the 1980s, some pharmaceutical companies such as Bayer sparked controversy by continuing to sell contaminated factor VIII after new heat-treated versions were available.[14] Under FDA pressure, unheated product was pulled from US markets, but was sold to Asian, Latin American, and some European countries. The product was tainted with HIV, a concern that had been discussed by Bayer and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).[14]

In the early 1990s, pharmaceutical companies began to produce recombinant synthesized factor products, which now prevent nearly all forms of disease transmission during replacement therapy.

See also[edit]


  1. ^ Toole JJ, Knopf JL, Wozney JM, Sultzman LA, Buecker JL, Pittman DD, Kaufman RJ, Brown E, Shoemaker C, Orr EC (1984). "Molecular cloning of a cDNA encoding human antihaemophilic factor". Nature 312 (5992): 342–7. doi:10.1038/312342a0. PMID 6438528. 
  2. ^ Truett MA, Blacher R, Burke RL, Caput D, Chu C, Dina D, Hartog K, Kuo CH, Masiarz FR, Merryweather JP (October 1985). "Characterization of the polypeptide composition of human factor VIII:C and the nucleotide sequence and expression of the human kidney cDNA". DNA 4 (5): 333–49. doi:10.1089/dna.1985.4.333. PMID 3935400. 
  3. ^ Antonarakis SE (July 1995). "Molecular genetics of coagulation factor VIII gene and hemophilia A". Thromb. Haemost. 74 (1): 322–8. PMID 8578479. 
  4. ^ a b "NIH: F8 - coagulation factor VIII". National Institutes of Health. 
  5. ^ "Entrez Gene: F8 coagulation factor VIII, procoagulant component (hemophilia A)". 
  6. ^ Jenkins PV, Rawley O, Smith OP et al. (2012). "Elevated factor VIII levels and risk of venous thrombosis". Br J Haematol 157 (6): 653–63. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2141.2012.09134.x. PMID 22530883. 
  7. ^ Milne, David B, Nielsen Forrest H. (1996). "Effects of a diet low in copper on copper-status indicators in postmenopausal women.". Am J Clin Nutr. 63 (3): 358–64. PMID 8602593. 
  8. ^ Levinson B, Kenwrick S, Lakich D, Hammonds G, Gitschier J (1990). "A transcribed gene in an intron of the human factor VIII gene". Genomics 7 (1): 1–11. doi:10.1016/0888-7543(90)90512-S. PMID 2110545. 
  9. ^ Kumar, Abbas, Fausto (2005). Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. Pennsylvania: Elsevier. p. 655. ISBN 1-889325-04-X. 
  10. ^ a b Kaushansky K, Lichtman M, Beutler E, Kipps T, Prchal J, Seligsohn U. (2010; edition 8) Williams Hematology. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-162151-9
  11. ^ Hollestelle, MJ; Geertzen, HG; Straatsburg, IH; van Gulik, TM; van Mourik, JA (Feb 2004). "Factor VIII expression in liver disease.". Thrombosis and haemostasis 91 (2): 267–75. doi:10.1160/th03-05-0310. PMID 14961153. 
  12. ^ R. Rubin, L. Leopold (1998). Hematologic Pathophysiology. Madison, Conn: Fence Creek Publishing. ISBN 1-889325-04-X. 
  13. ^ Lozier J (2004). "Overview of Factor VIII Inhibitors". CMEonHemophilia.com. Retrieved 2009-01-07. 
  14. ^ a b Bogdanich W, Koli E (2003-05-22). "2 Paths of Bayer Drug in 80's: Riskier One Steered Overseas". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-01-07. 

Further reading[edit]

  • Gitschier J (1991). "The molecular basis of hemophilia A". Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 614 (1 Process in Va): 89–96. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1991.tb43694.x. PMID 1902642. 
  • White GC, Shoemaker CB (1989). "Factor VIII gene and hemophilia A". Blood 73 (1): 1–12. PMID 2491949. 
  • Antonarakis SE, Kazazian HH, Tuddenham EG (1995). "Molecular etiology of factor VIII deficiency in hemophilia A". Hum. Mutat. 5 (1): 1–22. doi:10.1002/humu.1380050102. PMID 7728145. 
  • Saenko EL, Ananyeva N, Kouiavskaia D et al. (2003). "Molecular defects in coagulation Factor VIII and their impact on Factor VIII function". Vox Sang. 83 (2): 89–96. doi:10.1046/j.1423-0410.2002.00183.x. PMID 12201837. 
  • Lollar P (2003). "Molecular characterization of the immune response to factor VIII". Vox Sang. 83. Suppl 1: 403–8. PMID 12617176. 
  • Fay PJ (2004). "Activation of factor VIII and mechanisms of cofactor action". Blood Rev. 18 (1): 1–15. doi:10.1016/S0268-960X(03)00025-0. PMID 14684146. 
  • Lavigne-Lissalde G, Schved JF, Granier C, Villard S (2005). "Anti-factor VIII antibodies: a 2005 update". Thromb. Haemost. 94 (4): 760–9. doi:10.1160/TH05-02-0118. PMID 16270627. 
  • Fang H, Wang L, Wang H (2007). "The protein structure and effect of factor VIII". Thromb. Res. 119 (1): 1–13. doi:10.1016/j.thromres.2005.12.015. PMID 16487577. 

External links[edit]