Figure 5. Heparin does not affect sFlt-1 protein complex size but interferes with sFlt-1 binding to negatively charged surfaces.

Serum samples before and after low molecular weight heparin treatment were subjected to velocity gradient centrifugation. Western blotting of fractions 5–18 was performed using Flt-1 specific antibody (A). Serum samples before and after addition of 10 mg/l enoxaparin were subjected to cation exchange chromatography. In non-treated serum samples 70.14% of sFlt-1 binds to the column, whereas the remaining 29. 86% are found in the flow through. After enoxaparin treatment only 56.88% of sFlt-1 is bound and 43.11% appear in the flow through (p = 0.0386) (B).