Summary
A study was made of the influence of thrombin on the platelet-aggregating activity
of human factor VIII with Ristocetin as cofactor. Purified factor VIII and different
amounts of a thrombin-Sepharose 2B complex were mixed and incubated for various periods
of time. The factor VIII-related platelet-aggregating activities of the filtrates
of the incubation mixtures were determined in a test system using formalin-fixed platelets
and Ristocetin as cofactor. The results so obtained indicate that thrombin inactivates
the platelet-aggregating activity of factor VIII. The filtrates of the incubation
mixtures were also tested by a two- stage test system for their clotting activities.
Comparison of the influence of thrombin on the clotting- and the platelet-aggregating
activities of factor VIII is presented and discussed.