Megakaryocytes endocytose and subsequently modify human factor V in vivo to form the entire pool of a unique platelet-derived cofactor

Factor Va (FVa), derived from plasma or released from stimulated platelets, is the essential cofactor in thrombin production catalyzed by the prothrombinase complex. Plasma-derived factor V (FV) is synthesized in the liver. The source(s) of the platelet-derived cofactor remains in question. We identified a patient homozygous for the FV(Leiden) mutation, who received a liver transplant from a homozygous wild-type FV donor. Eighteen days post-transplant, phenotypic analysis of the patient's platelet-derived FV indicated that the platelets were acquiring wild-type FV, consistent with the temporal differentiation of megakaryocytes and subsequent platelet production. Nine months post-transplant, the platelet-derived FV pool consisted entirely of wild-type FV. Consequently, megakaryocyte endocytosis of plasma-derived FV must account for the entire platelet-derived pool, because blood-borne platelets cannot bind or endocytose FV. Subsequent to this endocytic process, the patient's platelet-derived FV was cleaved to a partially active cofactor, and rendered resistant to phosphorylation catalyzed by a platelet-associated kinase, and hence less susceptible to activated protein C-catalyzed inactivation. These data provide the first in vivo demonstration of an endocytosed plasma protein undergoing intracellular modifications that alter its function. This process results in the sequestration of active FVa within the platelet compartment, poised for immediate action subsequent to release from platelets at a site of injury.