• The anti-b2GP1 autoantibody/ b2GP1 complex binds to the platelet thrombus, amplifying platelet activation.• Platelets are required for enhanced activation of the endothelium and fibrin generation by the anti-b2GP1 autoantibody/b2GP1 complex.Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is defined by thrombosis, fetal loss, and the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies, including anti-b2-glycoprotein-1 autoantibodies (antib2GP1) that have a direct role in the pathogenesis of thrombosis in vivo. The cellular targets of the anti-b2GP1 autoantibody/b2GP1 complex in vivo were studied using a laserinduced thrombosis model of APS in a live mouse and human anti-b2GP1 autoantibodies affinity-purified from APS patients. Cell binding of fluorescently labeled b2GP1 and antib2GP1 autoantibodies revealed their colocalization on the platelet thrombus but not the endothelium. Anti-b2GP1 autoantibodies enhanced platelet activation, monitored by calcium mobilization, and endothelial activation, monitored by intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression. When eptifibatide was infused to block platelet thrombus formation, enhanced fibrin generation and endothelial cell activation were eliminated. Thus, the anti-b2GP1 autoantibody/b2GP1 complex binds to the thrombus, enhancing platelet activation, and platelet secretion leads to enhanced endothelium activation and fibrin generation. These results lead to a paradigm shift away from the concept that binding of the anti-b2GP1 autoantibody/b2GP1 complex activates both endothelial cells and platelets toward one in which activation of platelets in response to anti-b2GP1 autoantibody/b2GP1 complex binding leads to subsequent enhanced endothelium activation and fibrin generation. (Blood. 2014;124(4):611-622)
IntroductionAntiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterized by venous or arterial thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity and is associated with circulating antiphospholipid (aPL) autoantibodies.1-3 These antibodies, including anti-b2-glycoprotein-1 (anti-b2GP1) autoantibodies, recognize plasma proteins that bind to anionic phospholipids, among which b2GP1 is the major target. 4 Antibodies directed against b2GPI 5,6 are associated with thrombotic events in APS. Antib2GP1 autoantibodies from patients with APS and thrombosis enhance arterial thrombus formation after injury in a mouse model of APS, 7 with dramatic increases in platelet thrombus size and fibrin generation.The mechanisms leading to thrombosis in APS are unresolved. In vitro and in vivo studies using animal models demonstrated that aPL antibodies interact with endothelial cells and monocytes to increase tissue factor expression and complement activation and proinflammatory cytokines. 8,9 In vitro, platelet activation occurs after the binding of complexes of anti-b2GP1 antibodies and dimerized b2GP1 to GPIba and ApoER2. [10][11][12] Furthermore, APS patients exhibit markers of platelet activation. 13 The conventional understanding is that the antib2GP1/b2GP1 complex binds to receptors on both the endothelial cell and the platelet, lea...