Summary
In mammalian cells, factor VIII (FVIII) secretion depends upon its interaction with
chaperones of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and requires a unique ATP-dependent step
to dissociate aggregates formed within the ER. To further elucidate mechanisms which
might account for the inefficient secretion of recombinant FVIII (rFVIII), we have
analyzed the pathways of recombinant full length (rFVIII-FL) and B-domain deleted
(rFVIIIΔB) FVIII and compared these to the secretion route of native FVIII in primary
hepatocytes. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy in combination with a pulse
chase of a known secretion marker, we describe the trafficking route of FVIII, which
upon release from the ER – where it colocalizes with calnexin – is transported to
the Golgi complex in vesiculartubular transport complexes (VTCs) which could be further
identified as being COP I coated. However, a large portion of rFVIII is retained in
the ER and additionally in structures which could not be assigned to the ER, Golgi
complex or intermediate compartment. Moderate BiP transcription levels indicate that
this observed retention of FVIII does not reflect cellular stress due to an overexpression
of FVIII-protein in transduced cells. Moreover, a pulse of newly synthesized rFVIII
protein is released within 4 hrs, indicating that once rFVIII is released from the
ER there is no further limitation to its secretion. Our data provide new details about
the secretory route of FVIII, which may ultimately help to identify factors currently
limiting the efficient and physiological expression of FVIII in gene therapy and manufacture.
Keywords
Coagulation - co-factors - intracellular transport - vesicular tubular carriers -
COPI