title: Antibodies to serine proteases in the antiphospholipid syndrome.
abstract: It is generally accepted that the major autoantigen for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is beta(2)-glycoprotein I (beta(2)GPI). However, a recent study has revealed that some aPL bind to certain conformational epitope(s) on beta(2)GPI shared by the homologous enzymatic domains of several serine proteases involved in hemostasis and fibrinolysis. Importantly, some serine protease-reactive aPL correspondingly hinder anticoagulant regulation and resolution of clots. These results extend several early findings of aPL binding to other coagulation factors and provide a new perspective about some aPL in terms of binding specificities and related functional properties in promoting thrombosis. Moreover, a recent immunological and pathological study of a panel of human IgG monoclonal aPL showed that aPL with strong binding to thrombin promote in vivo venous thrombosis and leukocyte adherence, suggesting that aPL reactivity with thrombin may be a good predictor for pathogenic potentials of aPL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1000 Veteran Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. pochen@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Pojen P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Giles
mesh_terms: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000276:immunology*; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000991:Antithrombins / Q000502:physiology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D057057:Serine Proteases / Q000276:immunology*; D013917:Thrombin / Q000276:immunology; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D000991:Antithrombins; D000939:Epitopes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D057057:Serine Proteases; D013917:Thrombin