Process development for human factor VIII purification by chromatography, the use of specific antibodies against fragments of the protein for evaluation of purity and stability during purification processes.

O fator VIII de coagulação (FVIII), recombinante ou purificado de plasma, é o biofármaco necessário para o tratamento da hemofília A, a doença hemorrágica mais freqüente em humanos. O método tradicional para a purificação de FVIII parte de crioprecipitado de plasma e precipitação alcoólica. No Instituto Butantan, foi proposto um método alternativo, utilizando somente cromatografia para esta purificação. Este projeto teve por objetivo comparar dois métodos cromatográficos de purificação do FVIII: 1 - gel filtração direta do plasma e 2 - pré-purificação de FVIII do plasma por cromatografia de troca aniônica, seguida de gel filtração. A purificação foi analisada por dosagens de atividade específica de FVIII e presença de outras proteínas da cascata de coagulação nas frações de cromatografia. Foram realizadas clonagem de fragmentos gênicos de FVIII e expressão de fragmentos protéicos para imunização de animais. Os soros com anticorpos policlonais anti-FVIII foram usados em ensaios de \"western blot\" para detectar as cadeias de FVIII ou degradação.Coagulation factor VIII (FVIII), recombinant or purified from plasma, is the biopharmaceutical used for treatment of haemophilia A, the most frequent human hemorrhagic disorder. The traditional method used for purification of FVIII starts from plasma cryoprecipitate and alcoholic precipitation. The Instituto Butantan proposed an alternative methodology using only chromatography for FVIII purification. The main objective of this project was to compare two chromatographic methods for FVIII purification: 1 - direct plasma gel filtration and 2 - pre-purification of FVIII by anion exchange chromatography, followed by gel filtration. The purification process was analyzed by determination of FVIII specific activity and detection of other coagulation factors co eluting in chromatographic fractions. Fragments of FVIII gene were cloned and protein fragments were expressed for animal immunization. Sera with polyclonal antibodies anti-FVIII were used in western blots assays to detect FVIII chains or its degradation

Purification of coagulation factor VIII using chromatographic methods. Direct chromatography of plasma in anion exchange resins

Coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) concentrates are used in the treatment of patients with Hemophilia A. Human FVIII was purified directly from plasma using anion exchange chromatography followed by gel filtration. Three Q-Sepharose resins were tested, resulting in 40% recovery of FVIII activity using Q-Sepharose XL resin, about 80% using Q-Sepharose Fast Flow and 70% using the Q-Sepharose Big Beads. The vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors co-eluted with FVIII from the anion exchange columns. In the second step of purification, when Sepharose 6FF was used, 70% of FVIII activity was recovered free from vitamin K-dependent factors.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Programa de Aprimoramento Profissional (FUNDAP)Programa de Aprimoramento Profissional (FUNDAP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundacao ButantanFundacao Butanta