New tests to detect antiphospholipid antibodies: anti-domain I beta-2-glycoprotein-I antibodies

Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2014 Feb;16(2):402. doi: 10.1007/s11926-013-0402-7.

Abstract

Beta-2 glycoprotein I (β2GPI) is the main antigenic target for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), the serological markers of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Domain I (DI) of β2GPI has lately been identified as the main epitope targeted by antibodies reacting against β2GPI. DI is a cryptic epitope, becoming available for autoantibody binding when β2GPI opens from a circular to a fish-hook configuration. Antibodies targeting β2GPI-DI are more frequently detected in patients with a full-blown syndrome than in asymptomatic aPL carriers or in patients with infectious diseases that have reactivity toward the whole molecule. Interestingly, anti-DI antibodies are strongly positively correlated with thrombotic and pregnancy manifestations, enabling identification of patients at higher risk of clinical events. However, available tests to detect anti-DI antibodies still lack standardization. Moreover, some APS patients develop antibodies reacting against β2GPI epitopes other than DI, suggesting that other anti-β2GPI antibody subsets may be clinically relevant. Available evidence on anti-DI antibodies in APS is herein critically reviewed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / analysis*
  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / immunology
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / immunology
  • Autoantigens / immunology*
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Humans
  • Immunodominant Epitopes / immunology
  • Protein Conformation
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
  • Autoantigens
  • Biomarkers
  • Immunodominant Epitopes
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I