β2-Glycoprotein I-Reactive T Cells in Autoimmune Disease

Optimization of Unnicked β2-Glycoprotein I and High Avidity Anti-β2-Glycoprotein I Antibodies Isolation

Patient biological material for isolation of β2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI) and high avidity IgG anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies (HAv anti-β2GPI) dictates its full utilization. The aim of our study was to evaluate/improve procedures for isolation of unnicked β2GPI and HAv aβ2GPI to gain unmodified proteins in higher yields/purity. Isolation of β2GPI from plasma was a stepwise procedure combining n...

Are Oxidized LDL/β2-glycoprotein I Complexes Pathogenic Antigens in Autoimmune-mediated Atherosclerosis?

The oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the intima of arteries contributes to the initiation and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. We have previously reported that oxidized LDL (oxLDL) interacts with an endogenous plasma protein, beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2GPI), to form complexes and that the interaction is mediated by oxLDL specific ligands. We have also demonstrat...

Absence of β2 integrins impairs regulatory T cells and exacerbates CD4+ T cell-dependent autoimmune carditis.

The immunopathogenic mechanisms mediating inflammation in multiorgan autoimmune diseases may vary between the different target tissues. We used the K/BxN TCR transgenic mouse model to investigate the contribution of CD4(+) T cells and β(2) integrins in the pathogenesis of autoimmune arthritis and endocarditis. Depletion of CD4(+) T cells following the onset of arthritis specifically prevented t...

Structural Changes in β2-Glycoprotein I and the Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Proatherogenic Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein/β2-Glycoprotein I Complexes in Arterial and Venous Disease

OxLDL/β2GPI complexes have been implicated in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis and associated with disease severity and adverse outcomes. We investigate the significance of anti-oxLDL/β2GPI antibodies and oxLDL/β2GPI complexes in patients with arterial and idiopathic venous disease. A cohort of 61 arterial disease patients, 32 idiopathic venous disease patients, and 53 healthy ...