Article
Immunology
Claudia Grossi, Nagaja Capitani, Marisa Benagiano, Cosima Tatiana Baldari, Chiara Della Bella, Paolo Macor, Francesco Tedesco, Maria Orietta Borghi, Norma Maugeri, Mario Milco D'Elios, Pier Luigi Meroni
Summary: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by recurrent vascular thrombosis and miscarriages. Antibodies against beta2 glycoprotein I (beta2GPI) are pathogenic in APS. They trigger complications by interacting with cell membranes and placenta tissues. The role of innate and adaptive immunity in APS, and the involvement of complement activation and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are still debated. This review aims to elucidate the role of beta2GPI in the cross-talk between innate and adaptive immunity in APS.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Natalia Egri, Chelsea Bentow, Laura Rubio, Gary L. Norman, Susana Lopez-Sanudo, Michael Mahler, Albert Perez-Isidro, Ricard Cervera, Odette Vinas, Gerard Espinosa, Estibaliz Ruiz-Ortiz
Summary: The study found that persistently positive results for aPS/PT IgG antibodies were significantly associated with APS classification, thrombosis, triple aPL positivity, LA positive result, and the Global APS Score (GAPSS) > than 9 points, but not with pregnancy morbidity and SLE.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Suresh Kumar, Mathivanan Chinnaraj, William Planer, Xiaobing Zuo, Paolo Macor, Francesco Tedesco, Nicola Pozzi
Summary: The study reveals the distinct roles of the two disulfide bonds, C32-C60 and C288-C326, in regulating the structure and function of β(2)GPI. While the C32-C60 bond plays a structural role, the C288-C326 bond functions as an allosteric switch controlling the protein's physiological functions in a redox-dependent manner.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Jiwon Yun, JaYoon Gu, Hyun Kyung Kim
Summary: The study revealed that double positivity of anti-beta 2GPI and anti-PS/PT not only increased thrombotic risk but also led to increased positivity of anti-ADAMTS13 antibody, suggesting a possible association between anti-ADAMTS13 antibody and the pathophysiology of antiphospholipid syndrome.
JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND THROMBOLYSIS
(2021)
Article
Medical Laboratory Technology
Sarra Melayah, Mariem Ghozzi, Ibtissem Ghedira, Amani Mankai
Summary: This study found that antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) were common in patients with articular manifestations, mainly directed against beta(2)GPI. However, the role of these antibodies remains to be specified.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Pier Luigi Meroni, Maria Orietta Borghi
Summary: Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are essential for the diagnosis of Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) and mainly target two autoantigens: beta(2)GPI and PT. The shift from dichotomous to quantitative test results provides more diagnostic/prognostic information, with IgG aPL being more valuable than IgA or IgM. The strong diagnostic/prognostic value of anti-beta(2)GPI domain 1 antibodies highlights the importance of antigen and epitope characterization in enhancing assay value.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Martina Frodlund, Tomas Walhelm, Charlotte Dahle, Christopher Sjowall
Summary: In patients with recent-onset SLE, a substantial percentage tested positive for at least one aPL isotype or the lupus anticoagulant test over time. Levels of all six aPL isotypes numerically decreased from inclusion to last follow-up. The presence of IgG aCL was significantly associated with myocardial infarction and miscarriage, while IgG/IgA anti-beta 2GPI was linked to miscarriage.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Rohan Willis, Thomas C. R. McDonnell, Charis Pericleous, Emilio B. Gonzalez, Alvaro Schleh, Zurina Romay-Penabad, Ian P. Giles, Anisur Rahman
Summary: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by vascular thrombosis and pregnancy morbidity. The current treatment options have limitations, and there is a need for more targeted therapies. Researchers developed a modified protein variant using site-specific chemical addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG), which effectively inhibited thrombus formation caused by pathogenic antibodies. These findings provide further evidence supporting the potential efficacy of PEG-modified protein as a treatment option for APS.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Hematology
Rui Zhu, Chun-Yan Cheng, Yan Yang, Gentian Denas, Vittorio Pengo
Summary: This systematic review evaluated the prevalence of phosphatidylserine/prothrombin complex autoantibodies (aPS/PT) in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The results showed a high rate of aPS/PT positivity in patients with APS, especially in those positive for Lupus Anticoagulant (LAC). However, further studies are needed to determine whether this test might be useful in the laboratory classification criteria of APS.
THROMBOSIS RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Hematology
Debbie Jiang, Wendy Lim, Mark Crowther, David Garcia
Summary: The presence of anti-B2GPI is weakly associated with thrombosis and inconsistently associated with obstetric complications, with very low-quality evidence and study heterogeneity preventing a quantitative assessment.
Article
Hematology
Tessa Noordermeer, Jessica E. Molhoek, Roger E. G. Schutgens, Silvie A. E. Sebastian, Sandra Drost-Verhoef, Annet C. W. van Wesel, Philip G. de Groot, Joost C. M. Meijers, Rolf T. Urbanus
Summary: Anti-beta 2GPI and anti-prothrombin antibodies cause lupus anticoagulant (LA) through different mechanisms: anti-beta 2GPI antibodies interfere with FV activation by FXa through a direct interaction, while anti-prothrombin antibodies compete with FXa for phospholipid binding sites.
JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Lavinia Agra Coletto, Maria Gerosa, Mariaconsuelo Valentini, Rolando Cimaz, Roberto Caporali, Pier Luigi Meroni, Cecilia Beatrice Chighizola
Summary: Anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL) are serological biomarkers of anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS), a condition characterized by vascular events and/or pregnancy morbidity. The heart is commonly affected in APS, with valvular involvement being the most common presentation. This study describes cases of primary APS patients with clinically manifest myocardiopathy without epicardial macrovascular involvement. The authors propose that microthrombotic/inflammatory myocardiopathy might be an overlooked complication of high-risk APS. Diagnosis of this condition requires an integrated approach including clinical history, assessment, laboratory tests, and cardiac magnetic resonance.
AUTOIMMUNITY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Medical Laboratory Technology
Sarra Melayah, Mariem Ghozzi, Amani Mankai, Fatma Mechi, Ibtissem Ghedira
Summary: This study found that the frequencies of CCP-Ab and RF are high in patients with IgA isotype of anti-beta 2 glycoprotein I antibodies, suggesting that these patients are susceptible to developing RA.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Guiting Zhang, Qianqian Cai, Hong Zhou, Chao He, Yudan Chen, Peng Zhang, Ting Wang, Liangjie Xu, Jinchuan Yan
Summary: The oxLDL/beta 2GPI/anti-beta 2GPI Ab complex can induce a hyper-inflammatory state in endothelial cells by promoting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and monocyte recruitment, largely dependent on the TLR4/NK-kappa B signaling pathway.
MOLECULAR MEDICINE REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
Marwa Elkhalifa, Ana-Maria Orbai, Laurence S. Magder, Michelle Petri, Graciela S. Alarcon, Caroline Gordon, Joan Merrill, Paul R. Fortin, Ian N. Bruce, David Isenberg, Daniel Wallace, Ola Nived, Rosalind Ramsey-Goldman, Sang-Cheol Bae, John G. Hanly, Jorge Sanchez-Guerrero, Ann E. Clarke, Cynthia Aranow, Susan Manzi, Murray Urowitz, Dafna D. Gladman, Ken Kalunian, Victoria P. Werth, Asad Zoma, Sasha Bernatsky, Munther Khamashta, Soren Jacobsen, Jill P. Buyon, Mary Anne Dooley, Ronald van Vollenhoven, Ellen Ginzler, Thomas Stoll, Christine Peschken, Joseph L. Jorizzo, Jeffery P. Callen, Sam Lim, Murat Inanc, Diane L. Kamen, Anisur Rahman, Kristjan Steinsson, Andrew G. Franks
Summary: The study assessed the prevalence of anti-beta 2 glycoprotein I IgA in SLE compared to other rheumatic diseases and its association with disease manifestations. Results showed that anti-beta 2 glycoprotein I IgA is more common in patients with SLE, particularly in those of African descent.
Letter
Rheumatology
Pier Luigi Meroni, Edward K. Chan, Jan Damoiseaux, Luis Eduardo Coelho Andrade, Xavier Bossuyt, Karsten Conrad, Xavier Mariette, Joanna Sheldon, Johan Ronnelid, Marvin J. Fritzler
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2019)
Article
Immunology
Caterina E. Faliti, Roberta Gualtierotti, Elsa Rottoli, Maria Gerosa, Lisa Perruzza, Andrea Romagnani, Giovanni Pellegrini, Benedetta De Ponte Conti, Riccardo L. Rossi, Marco Idzko, Emilia M. C. Mazza, Silvio Bicciato, Elisabetta Traggiai, Pier Luigi Meroni, Fabio Grassi
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2019)
Article
Immunology
Asmaa Beltagy, Laura Trespidi, Maria Gerosa, Manuela Wally Ossola, Pier Luigi Meroni, Cecilia B. Chighizola
Summary: Anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) highlights the connection between autoimmunity and pregnancy complications, with acquired anti-phospholipid antibodies playing a pathogenic role. Standard therapeutic approach for obstetric APS involves the combination of anti-platelet agents and anticoagulants as per international classification criteria.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Daniela Greco, Roberta Gualtierotti, Pasquale Agosti, Maria Pia Adorni, Francesca Ingegnoli, Matteo Rota, Franco Bernini, Pier Luigi Meroni, Nicoletta Ronda
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2020)
Letter
Rheumatology
Federica Bello, Federica Maritati, Antonella Radice, Renato Alberto Sinico, Giacomo Emmi, Augusto Vaglio
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2021)
Editorial Material
Rheumatology
Pier Luigi Meroni, Maria Orietta Borghi
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2021)
Letter
Rheumatology
Xavier Bossuyt, Walter Fierz, Pier Luigi Meroni
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cecilia Nalli, Daniele Lini, Laura Andreoli, Francesca Crisafulli, Micaela Fredi, Maria Grazia Lazzaroni, Viktoria Bitsadze, Antonia Calligaro, Valentina Canti, Roberto Caporali, Francesco Carubbi, Cecilia Beatrice Chighizola, Paola Conigliaro, Fabrizio Conti, Caterina De Carolis, Teresa Del Ross, Maria Favaro, Maria Gerosa, Annamaria Iuliano, Jamilya Khizroeva, Alexander Makatsariya, Pier Luigi Meroni, Marta Mosca, Melissa Padovan, Roberto Perricone, Patrizia Rovere-Querini, Gian Domenico Sebastiani, Chiara Tani, Marta Tonello, Simona Truglia, Dina Zucchi, Franco Franceschini, Angela Tincani
Summary: The study found that decreased complement levels before pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with triple antiphospholipid antibodies positivity, while this trend was not observed in those with single or double positivity. Complement levels are cost-effective and easy to measure, making them a potentially useful tool for identifying pregnant women at risk of pregnancy loss.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paolo Macor, Paolo Durigutto, Alessandro Mangogna, Rossana Bussani, Luca De Maso, Stefano D'Errico, Martina Zanon, Nicola Pozzi, Pier Luigi Meroni, Francesco Tedesco
Summary: Research has shown that complement components are deposited in the lungs, kidneys, and liver of COVID-19 patients, indicating activation pathways of the complement system in different organs. These deposits support the multi-organ nature of the disease and the role of the complement system in inflammation and tissue damage.
Article
Microbiology
Massimo Cugno, Pier Luigi Meroni, Dario Consonni, Samantha Griffini, Elena Grovetti, Cristina Novembrino, Adriana Torri, Gloria Griffante, Marisa Gariglio, Luca Varani, Flora Peyvandi
Summary: This study found that high levels of antibodies to pre-existing coronaviruses are associated with mild disease in patients with COVID-19. This finding suggests that the measurement of pre-existing coronavirus antibodies could be important in predicting disease severity.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Roberta E. Gualtierotti, Sharon Fox, Fernanda Da Silva Lameira, Andrea Giachi, Luca Valenti, Maria Orietta Borghi, Pier Luigi Meroni, Massimo Cugno, Flora Peyvandi
Summary: Nailfold videocapillaroscopic alterations were observed in COVID-19 patients, and these alterations were correlated with biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial perturbation. Nailfold histopathology analysis revealed microvascular damage and microthrombi in some cases. These findings suggest the possibility of non-invasively demonstrating microangiopathy in COVID-19.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Pia Adorni, Bianca Papotti, Maria Orietta Borghi, Elena Raschi, Francesca Zimetti, Franco Bernini, Pier Luigi Meroni, Nicoletta Ronda
Summary: This study investigates the direct effects of tofacitinib on macrophage cholesterol metabolism, finding that it can increase cholesterol efflux, decrease cholesterol uptake and synthesis, and have a favorable impact on macrophage cholesterol metabolism. These findings are important for understanding the impact of tofacitinib on cardiovascular risk.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Rheumatology
Xavier Bossuyt, Ellen De Langhe, Maria Orietta Borghi, Pier Luigi Meroni
NATURE REVIEWS RHEUMATOLOGY
(2020)
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marco Oggioni, Carolina Artusi, Pier Luigi Meroni, Claudia Grossi, Orietta Borghi, Francesco Tedesco, Stefano Fumagalli, Maria Grazia De Simoni
MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2019)
Meeting Abstract
Rheumatology
Udry Sebastian, Ljudmila Stojanovich, Jaume Alijotas-Reig, Katrien Devreese, Omar Latino, Alexander Makatsaryia, Enrique Esteve Valverde, Johanna Gebhart, Gyorgy Nagy, Daniel Henrion, Cristina Belizna, Laura Andreoli, Maarten Limper, Ricard Cervera, Pier Luigi Meroni, Yehuda Shoenfeld