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- Hoxha, A., et al.
(author)
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Identification of discrete epitopes of Ro52p200 and association with fetal cardiac conduction system manifestations in a rodent model
- 2016
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In: Clinical and Experimental Immunology. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0009-9104 .- 1365-2249. ; 186:3, s. 284-291
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Congenital heart block (CHB) is a potentially lethal condition characterized by a third-degree atrioventricular block (AVB). Despite anti-Ro52 antibodies being detected in nearly 90% of mothers of affected children, CHB occurs in only 1-2% of anti-Ro/Sjogrens-syndrome-related antigen A (SSA) autoantibody-positive pregnancies. Maternal antibodies have been suggested to bind molecules crucial to fetal cardiac function; however, it remains unknown whether a single antibody profile associates with CHB or whether several specificities and cross-reactive targets exist. Here, we aimed to define further the reactivity profile of CHB-associated antibodies towards Ro52p200 (amino acid 200-239). We first analysed reactivity of a monoclonal anti-Ro52 antibody shown to induce AVB in rats (7.8C7) and of sera from anti-Ro52p200 antibody-positive mothers of children with CHB towards a panel of modified Ro52p200 peptides, and subsequently evaluated their potential to induce AVB in rats upon transfer during gestation. We observed that CHB maternal sera displayed a homogeneous reactivity profile targeting preferentially the C-terminal part of Ro52p200, in contrast to 7.8C7 that specifically bound the p200 N-terminal end. In particular, amino acid D233 appeared crucial to maternal antibody reactivity towards p200. Despite low to absent reactivity towards rat p200 and different binding profiles towards mutated rat peptides indicating recognition of different epitopes within Ro52p200, immunoglobulin (Ig)G purified from two mothers of children with CHB could induce AVB in rats. Our findings support the hypothesis that several fine antibody specificities and cross-targets may exist and contribute to CHB development in anti-Ro52 antibody-positive pregnancies.
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- Shoenfeld, Y, et al.
(author)
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Prevalence and clinical correlations of antibodies against six beta 2-glycoprotein-I-related peptides in the antiphospholipid syndrome
- 2003
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In: Journal of Clinical Immunology. - 0271-9142. ; 23:5, s. 377-383
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Two-hundred ninety five patients with the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) were studied for the presence of antibodies against six anti-beta2GPI-related peptides Abs. The prevalence of a wide spectrum of clinical and laboratory parameters of APS was evaluated in all patients, and correlated with the presence of each anti-beta2GPI peptide antibody. The rates of the various antipeptides Abs ranged from 18.0 to 63.7%. Altogether, 87.1% of the patients had antibody reactivity against at least one of the six beta2GPI-related peptides. A high degree of simultaneous reactivity against several beta2GPI-peptides was found. Positive and negative correlations were found between several antipeptides Abs and the rates of thrombosis and fetal loss. Our results point to a heterogeneous activity of antiphospholipid Abs in APS patients, directed, often concurrently, against various epitopes of the beta2GPI molecule. Evaluation of APS patients for the presence of specific antipeptides Abs may be of a value in predicting the risk for future thrombotic and obstetrical complication, as well as for specific therapeutic purposes.
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- Shoenfeld, Yehuda, et al.
(author)
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Features associated with epilepsy in the antiphospholipid syndrome
- 2004
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In: Journal of Rheumatology. - 0315-162X. ; 31:7, s. 1344-1348
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of epilepsy in primary and secondary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS); to analyze the clinical and laboratory features characterizing those with epilepsy in a cohort of 538 patients with APS; and to find associated features that would suggest risk factors for epilepsy in APS. METHODS: We analyzed the clinical features of patients with APS who had epilepsy and compared them to the clinical features of non-epileptic APS patients. RESULTS: Of 538 APS patients, 46 (8.6%) had epilepsy. Epilepsy was more prevalent among APS secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared to primary APS (13.7% vs 6%; p < 0.05). The patients with epilepsy had a higher prevalence of central nervous system (CNS) manifestations including focal ischemic events (strokes or transient ischemic events, 54.3% vs 24.6%; p < 0.0001) and amaurosis fugax (15.2% vs 4.9%; p < 0.05). APS patients with epilepsy had a higher frequency of valvular pathology (30.4% vs 14.6%; p < 0.01), thrombocytopenia (43.5% vs 25%; p < 0.05), and livedo reticularis (26.1% vs 11.5%; p < 0.01). The multivariate logistic regression analysis found CNS thromboembolic events as the most significant factor associated with epilepsy, with an odds ratio (OR) of 4.05 (95% confidence interval, CI: 2.05-8), followed by SLE (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2-4.7), and valvular vegetations (OR 2.87, 95% CI 1-8.27). CONCLUSION: Epilepsy is common in APS and most of the risk seems to be linked to vascular disease as manifested by extensive CNS involvement, valvulopathy, and livedo reticularis and to the presence of SLE. These factors, however, explain only part of the increased occurrence of epilepsy in APS and other causes such as direct immune interaction in the brain should be investigated.
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