Antihemophilic factor [factor VIII] preparations inhibit lymphocyte proliferation and production of interleukin-2

To examine the role of antihemophilic factor (factor VIII) preparations in the pathogenesis of subclinical immunodeficiency in hemophilia, we tested the in vitro effects of these products on immune function. Both lyophilized antihemophilic factor (LAHF) and cryoprecipitates inhibited lymphocyte proliferation in a dose-dependent fashion. Further studies indicated that LAHF interfered with an early event in proliferation and also that prolonged incubation of human lymphocytes with LAHF resulted in an irreversible inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation without detectable cytotoxic effects. LAHF also inhibited the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by human lymphocytes and by Jurkat tumor cells, suggesting that inhibition of IL-2 production was not mediated through effects on interleukin-1. Gel filtration of LAHF revealed two peaks of inhibitory activity; one with mol wt greater than 2 X 10(6) comigrated with factor VIII coagulant activity and antigen, whereas another with mol wt approximately 6 X 10(5) was devoid of factor VIII activity and antigen. Further study will ascertain whether administration of factor VIII-containing preparations contributes to the subclinical immunodeficiency seen in patients with hemophilia or serves as a cofactor in the development of clinical immunodeficiency after exposure to the retrovirus human T-lymphotropic virus type III.