title: Presence of anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies in obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The low-grade chronic inflammation present in obesity has been recognized as a risk factor for thrombosis, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications. In this context, production by adipose organ of a number of inflammatory adipokines could play a crucial role. It has been reported that obesity represents a risk factor for acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a disease caused by ADAMTS13 deficiency because of anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies, but the pathophysiological link between obesity and TTP is still unknown. We aimed to investigate mechanisms linking obesity to risk of TTP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty obese patients consecutively admitted to Bariatric Unit of Padua between 2006 and 2009, and 39 lean subjects were characterized by anthropometric, metabolic and inflammatory parameters. ADAMTS13 autoantibodies, activity and antigen levels, and several cytokines including thrombospondin-1 were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  21.3% of obese patients were positive for noninhibitory ADAMTS13 autoantibodies, while all lean subjects were negative (P<0.01). No differences in ADAMTS13 activity and antigen levels were found. Thrombospondin-1 levels were significantly higher in obese than in lean subjects (974.4 ± 592.7 vs. 318.9 ± 202.1 ng/mL; P<0.001) and were inversely correlated with ADAMTS13 activity (R=-0.4853; P<0.001). Dot blot suggests that anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies in obese patients bind recombinant thrombospondin-1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies are directed against thrombospondin domains shared between ADAMTS13 and thrombospondin-1 and that their generation may be sustained by high levels of thrombospondin-1. This phenomenon could be of relevance, because little is known on the pathogenesis of TTP and its possible link with obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Internal Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fabris
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scarda
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zanato
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dal Prà
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scarparo
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vettore
authors.forename: Marnie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Granzotto
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berti De Marinis
authors.forename: Mirto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foletto
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Maria T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Sartori
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plebani
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fabris
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vettor
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000276:immunology; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012306:Risk; D019700:Thrombospondin 1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D001323:Autoantibodies; D019700:Thrombospondin 1; D051722:ADAM Proteins