Factor VIII (AP)

Factor VIII is an essential blood coagulation factor. Whilst circulating in the blood, it is mostly stably complexed to von Willebrand factor. It is activated through cleavage at various sites, dissociates from the complex and interacts with Factor IXa, in the presence of calcium ions and phospholipids, to convert Factor X to the activated Factor Xa, which activates thrombin. Thrombin cleaves fibrinogen into fibrin, which polymerises and cross-links to form a blood clot. The activated Factor VIII is proteolytically inactivated and cleared from the bloodstream. Defects in Factor VIII cause hemophilia...