Summary
The majority of the antiphospholipid antibodies, present in patients with antiphospholipid
syndrome, are directed against conformational epitopes in β2-glycoprotein I. β2-glycoprotein
I is an anionic phospholipid- binding 50-kDa plasma protein whose physiological role
is not clear. Here we investigate the role of β2-glycoprotein I in the phagocytosis
of phosphatidylserine-expressing platelet microvesicles and the effect of autoantibodies
to β2-glycoprotein I on this process. We labelled the glycans of β2-glycoprotein I
with BODIPY (4,4-difluoro- 4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene)-hydrazide without affecting
its phospholipid binding capacity. BODIPY-β2-glycoprotein I bound to platelet microvesicles
in a concentration-dependent manner and promoted the phagocytosis of platelet microvesicles
by THP-1 derived macrophages in vitro at physiological plasma concentrations with a half maximal effect at ∼10 μg/ml. β2-glycoprotein
I-stimulated phagocytosis was inhibited by annexin A5 and the phosphatidylserine-binding
C1C2 fragment of lactadherin. Furthermore, immunoaffinity purified β2-glycoprotein
I-dependent antiphospholipid antibodies from five patients with antiphospholipid syndrome
inhibited the phagocytosis in a concentration- dependent manner. These studies suggest
that the binding of β2-glycoprotein I to phosphatidylserine-expressing procoagulant
platelet microvesicles may promote their clearance by phagocytosis and autoantibodies
to β2-glycoprotein I may inhibit this process to induce a procoagulant state.
Keywords
β2-glycoprotein I - antiphospholipid antibodies - platelet microvesicles - phagocytosis