title: Autoantigenic epitopes on platelet glycoproteins.
abstract: Chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by early platelet destruction mediated by antiplatelet autoantibodies. Platelet membrane glycoproteins (GP), especially GPIIb-IIIa and GPIb-IX, contain major autoantigenic determinants in chronic ITP. Recent advances in the localization of autoantigens as well as in the detection of GP-specific antibodies have improved our understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease. The N-terminal globular head of GPIIb-IIIa, particularly the beta-propeller domain in GPIIb, seems to play an important role as a hot spot for autoantigenic epitopes in chronic ITP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine C9, Osaka University, Suita, Japan. yoshi@hp-blood.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tomiyama
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kosugi
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001324:Autoantigens; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000276:immunology; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D000939:Epitopes; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins