In chronic disorders related to endothelial cell dysfunction, plasma  2 glycoprotein I ( 2 GPI) plays a role as a target antigen of pathogenetic autoimmune responses. However, information is still lacking to clarify why  2 GPI triggers autoimmunity. It is possible that posttranslational modification of the protein, such as nonenzymatic glycosylation, leads to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The aim of our study was to explore whether glucose-modified  2 GPI is able to interact and activate monocytederived immature dendritic cells (iDCs) from healthy human donors. SDS-PAGE and spectrofluorometric analyses indicated that  2 GPI incubated with glucose was sugar modified, and that this modification likely consisted of AGE formation, resulting in AGE- 2 GPI. AGE- 2 GPI caused phenotypical and functional maturation of iDCs involving the activation of p38 MAPK, ERK, and NF-B. It also induced on DCs a significant up-regulation of RAGE, the receptor for AGEs. Evidence for RAGE involvement comes from blocking experiments with an anti-RAGE mAb, confocal analysis, and coimmunoprecipitation experiments. AGE- 2 GPI-stimulated DCs had increased allostimulatory ability and primed naive T lymphocytes toward a Th2 polarization. These findings might explain in part the interactive role of  2 GPI, AGEs, and DCs in chronic disorders related to endothelial cell dysfunction. (Blood. 2011;117(23):6152-6161) Introduction  2 Glycoprotein I ( 2 GPI) or apolipoprotein H is an abundant plasma glycoprotein that binds to negatively charged phospholipids and is involved in clotting mechanisms and lipid pathways. 1 Studies performed in healthy individuals have shown a correlation between plasma  2 GPI and fasting glucose, lipids, and lipoprotein levels. 2  2 GPI plasma concentrations are strongly associated with the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetic patients and could be considered as a clinical marker of cardiovascular risk. 3 This glycoprotein is also the most common target for antiphospholipid antibodies frequently associated with vascular cell dysfunction, 4 thrombotic events, and pro-atherogenic mechanisms. [5][6][7][8] In chronic disorders related to endothelial cell dysfunction, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), and atherosclerosis,  2 GPI plays a role as a target antigen for an immune-mediated attack, possibly influencing the progression of disease. 9-13  2 GPI stimulates a vigorous adaptive humoral response, but also a cellular immune response. 14-15 Cellular immunity to  2 GPI exists in patients with APS 14 and in healthy individuals. 16 Recently, we showed that  2 GPI is a T-cell target in patients with advanced carotid atherosclerotic plaques. 17 Although much is known about  2 GPI as a cofactor in autoimmune diseases, crucial information is still lacking to clarify why this abundant self-plasma protein is the target of autoimmune responses.The molecular structure and location of the major epitopic region(s) on the...