title: Insights into the pathophysiology of the antiphospholipid syndrome provided by atomic force microscopy.
abstract: The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an enigmatic autoimmune disorder in which patients present with thrombosis and/or recurrent pregnancy losses together with laboratory evidence for the presence of autoantibodies in the blood that recognize proteins that bind to anionic phospholipids - the most important of which is β(2)-glycoprotein I (β(2)GPI). Earlier, we hypothesized that the clinical manifestations arise from antibody-induced disruption of a two-dimensional anticoagulant crystal shield, composed of annexin A5, present on placental trophoblast plasma membranes. Accordingly, we reasoned that a high resolution imaging technology, such as atomic force microscopy could be used to investigate such molecular interactions at high resolution in a non-fixed hydrated environment. This review will focus on the contribution of this technique to the elucidation of the mechanism of APS.
authors.affiliation: Microscopy Imaging Center and Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Xiao-Xuan
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jacob H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Rand
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Taatjes
mesh_terms: D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000473:pathology