VACCINE

Blood • July 2012
The significance of autoantibodies
against ß2-glycoprotein I
Author information
de Groot PG1, Urbanus RT.
Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology
University Medical Center, Heidelberglaan 100
Utrecht, The Netherlands
ph.g.degroot@umcutrecht.nl
Abstract
The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is defined by the persistent
presence of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with a history of
thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity, including fetal loss. APS is
an autoimmune disease with a confusing name because the pathologic
auto-antibodies are shown to be directed against the plasma
protein ß(2)-glycoprotein I and not against phospholipids. In fact,
auto-antibodies that recognize phospholipids themselves are not associated
with thrombosis but with infectious diseases. One of the intriguing
questions is why autoantibodies against ß(2)-glycoprotein
I are so commonly found in both patients and the healthy. Several
potential mechanisms have been suggested to explain the increased
thrombotic risk in patients with these autoantibodies. In this overview,
we will summarize our knowledge on the etiology of the autoantibodies,
and we will discuss the evidence that identify autoantibodies
against ß(2)-glycoprotein I as the culprit of APS.
“... we will summarize our knowledge on the
etiology of the autoantibodies, and we will
discuss the evidence that identify autoantibodies
against ß(2)-glycoprotein I as the culprit
of Antiphospholipid Syndrome.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=22553312