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R A Roubey

Publications and source records attributed to R A Roubey.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Tissue factor pathway and the antiphospholipid syndrome.

Expression of tissue factor activity on cells in contact with flowing blood is the trigger for physiological coagulation as well as many types of thrombosis. A number of older observations and considerable recent data suggest that increased tissue factor activity is an important cause of hypercoagulability in the antiphospholipid syndrome. Potential mechanisms contributing to upregulation of the tissue factor pathway include increased expression of tissue factor due to increased transcription, increased functional activity of tissue factor molecules due to de-encryption and decreased activity of tissue factor pathway inhibitor. Autoantibodies and/or immune complexes appear to play a major role in enhanced tissue factor activity, although increased levels of inflammatory cytokines may also contribute. Anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I autoantibodies have been specifically implicated in the antibody-mediated enhancement of tissue factor activity.

Antiphospholipid Syndrome↗

Update on antiphospholipid antibodies.

The association of antibodies with an apparent specificity for anionic phospholipids with thrombosis, fetal loss, thrombocytopenia, and certain other clinical manifestations is now well-recognized as the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Recent advances in our understanding of the antibodies and antigens involved include discovery of the crystal structure of beta2-glycoprotein I, (beta2GPI), genetic studies of beta2GPI polymorphisms, and the development of anti-beta2GPI and antiprothrombin immunoassays as clinical laboratory tests. The identification of antigen-specific T cells in APS patients has stimulated interest in the role of the cellular immune response in the syndrome. Clinical research in APS will also benefit from the development of preliminary classification criteria.

Annexin A5↗

Antiphospholipid syndrome: antibodies and antigens.

Elucidation of the antibodies and antigens involved in the antiphospholipid syndrome has provided many new insights and research opportunities. The major autoantibodies associated with the syndrome and detected in clinical laboratory assays for antiphospholipid antibodies are directed against prothrombin and beta2-glycoprotein I beta2GPI), a phospholipid-binding plasma protein whose physiological function is unknown. Recent advances in our understanding of these antibodies and antigens include discovery of the crystal structure of beta2GPI, identification of a plasmin cleavage site in beta2GPI, genetic studies of beta2GPI polymorphisms, development of clinical laboratory assays using purified protein antigens, and the identification of antigen specific T cells.

Anticoagulants↗

Links between the immune and coagulation systems: how do "antiphospholipid antibodies" cause thrombosis?

Inflammation and immune activation have been associated with thrombosis in a number of settings. We have been interested in the question of how the presence of a type of autoantibody, so-called "antiphospholipid" antibody, leads to thrombosis. Several mechanisms have been proposed including modulation of tissue factor expression, enhancement of procoagulant binding to platelets, and interference with antithrombotic mechanisms. We developed a cell-based model of coagulation that, unlike current coagulation assays, reflects some of the in vivo activities of "antiphospholipid" antibodies. "Antiphospholipid" antibodies against the phospholipid-binding protein beta-2-glycoprotein-1 enhance thrombin generation in this model system, primarily by enhancing procoagulant reactions on tissue factor-bearing cells.

Antibodies, Antiphospholipid↗

Familial antiphospholipid antibody syndrome: criteria for disease and evidence for autosomal dominant inheritance.

OBJECTIVE: To develop diagnostic criteria for a familial form of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), identify families with >1 affected member, examine possible modes of inheritance, and determine linkage to potential candidate genes. METHODS: Family members of probands with primary APS were analyzed for clinical and laboratory abnormalities associated with APS. Families with > or =2 affected members were analyzed by segregation analysis and typed for candidate genetic markers. RESULTS: Seven families were identified. Thirty of 101 family members met diagnostic criteria for APS. Segregation studies rejected both environmental and autosomal recessive models, and the data were best fit by either a dominant or codominant model. Linkage analysis showed independent segregation of APS and several candidate genes. CONCLUSION: Clinical and laboratory criteria are essential to identify the spectrum of disease associated with APS. We believe a set of criteria was developed that can precisely define affected family members with APS. Modeling studies utilizing these criteria strongly support a genetic basis for disease in families with APS and suggest that a susceptibility gene is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. However, in these families, APS was not linked with HLA, Fas, or other candidate genes, including beta2-glycoprotein 1, HLA, T cell receptor beta chain, Ig heavy chain, antithrombin III, Fas ligand, factor V, complement factor H, IgK, and Fas.

Adolescent↗

Characterization of IgG monoclonal anti-cardiolipin/anti-beta2GP1 antibodies from two patients with antiphospholipid syndrome reveals three species of antibodies.

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), including antibodies detected in anti-cardiolipin (aCL) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and in lupus anticoagulant (LA) tests, are strongly associated with recurrent thrombosis and recurrent fetal loss, i.e. the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Although recent studies suggest that most APS-associated aCL are directed against the phospholipid (PL)-binding plasma protein beta2-glycoprotein 1 (beta2GP1), the precise nature of aCL binding specificities remains controversial. To address the issue of aCL specificity we generated five new monoclonal IgG aCL from two patients with APS. Characterization of these five aCL, as well as two previously published IgG aCL, revealed three patterns of reactivity: (1) four antibodies reacted strongly with human beta2GP1-cardiolipin (CL) complexes and weakly with human beta2GP1 alone; (2) two antibodies recognized bovine beta2GP1, but not human beta2GP1; (3) one antibody reacted with complexes of human beta2GP1 and CL, but not with human beta2GP1 alone. Only one monoclonal displayed weak LA activity. These patient-derived IgG monoclonal antibodies, and additional ones to be generated, may help define varying species of antibodies detected in aCL assays and identify the specific antibodies that may be pathogenic.

Adolescent↗

Mechanisms of autoantibody-mediated thrombosis.

It is widely hypothesized that autoantibodies directly contribute to the prothrombotic state in the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The discovery that antiphospholipid autoantibodies are specific for phospholipid-binding plasma proteins (beta2-glycoprotein I, prothrombin, etc.) has allowed a much more precise investigation of the interactions of autoantibodies and antigens, and the effects of these interaction on hemostasis. Recent studies suggest that two types of interactions may be important in the pathophysiology of APS: (1) antibody cross-linking of membrane bound antigens may alter the kinetics of phospholipid-dependent reactions; and (2) antibody cross-linking of antigens bound to cell surface receptors may trigger signal transduction and cellular activation. In light of these findings, previous reports implicating various mechanisms of autoantibody-mediated thrombosis are being re-evaluated.

Antibodies, Anticardiolipin↗

Characterization of beta2-glycoprotein I binding to phospholipid membranes.

The plasma protein beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2-GPI) is a major target of autoantibodies in patients with the antiphospholipid syndrome. To understand the physiological function of beta2-GPI and its potential role in the pathophysiology of the antiphospholipid syndrome, the binding of beta2-GPI to phospholipid membranes was characterized. The interaction of beta2-GPI with unilamellar vesicles containing varying amounts of acidic phospholipids with phosphatidylcholine (PC) was measured at equilibrium via relative light scattering. Analysis of binding isotherms gave apparent Kd values ranging from approximately 5.0 to 0.5 microM over a range of 5-20 mol % anionic phospholipid. Inhibition of binding by increasing ionic strength and Ca2+ ions suggests that binding is primarily electrostatic. These data indicate that beta2-GPI binding to membranes with physiological anionic phospholipid content is relatively weak in comparison to plasma coagulation proteins, suggesting that beta2-GPI does not function as a physiological anticoagulant based on its phospholipid-binding properties.

Glycoproteins↗

Antigenic specificities of antiphospholipid autoantibodies: implications for clinical laboratory testing and diagnosis of the antiphospholipid syndrome.

Most autoantibodies associated with the antiphospholipid (aPL) syndrome and detected in standard anticardiolipin and/or lupus anticoagulant assays are directed against beta 2-glycoprotein I (beta 2-GPI) or prothrombin. Recent data indicate that these antibodies can also be detected in immunoassays utilizing purified protein antigens, in the absence of phospholipids. Initial clinical studies suggest that positivity in anti-beta 2-GPI immunoassays is more closely associated with the clinical manifestations of the aPL syndrome than is positivity in conventional anticardiolipin ELISAs. Anti-beta 2-GPI immunoassays may detect certain anti-beta 2-GPI antibodies that are not detectable in conventional anticardiolipin assays, but do not detect authentic (beta 2-GPI-independent) anticardiolipin antibodies. It appears that the former, but not the latter, antibodies are associated with the clinical manifestations of the aPL syndrome. The potential advantages and disadvantages of these new immunoassays in the clinical evaluation of the aPL syndrome are discussed.

Antibodies, Anticardiolipin↗

"Anticardiolipin" autoantibodies recognize beta 2-glycoprotein I in the absence of phospholipid. Importance of Ag density and bivalent binding.

"Anticardiolipin" autoantibodies (aCL) bind to anionic phospholipids only in the presence of beta 2-glycoprotein I (beta 2GPI), a phospholipid-binding plasma protein. The exact role of beta 2GPI in the antigenic specificity of these autoantibodies is unclear, however. Experiments were performed to determine whether aCL recognize beta 2GPI in the absence of phospholipid or neo-Ags formed as a consequence of the beta 2GPI-phospholipid interaction. Although aCL+ IgG fractions did not bind to beta 2GPI alone in ELISAs that used standard polystyrene immunoassay plates, significant specific binding was detected when beta 2GPI was coated on gamma-irradiated ("high binding") polystyrene plates. This difference was associated with the greater density of beta 2GPI immobilized on the gamma-irradiated plates. Fab' fragments of patient IgG demonstrated little or no binding to immobilized beta 2GPI in ELISA, indicating a critical role for Ab bivalency. Inhibition studies of three aCL+ IgG fractions confirmed their specificity for beta 2GPI and demonstrated low affinity binding to fluid-phase beta 2GPI (Kd values of approximately 10(-5) M). aCL binding to beta 2GPI was not a result of phospholipid contamination of the assays, as determined by microphosphate assay and by lipid extraction of IgG and beta 2GPI preparations. In summary, these experiments indicate that IgG aCL are intrinsically low affinity Abs to beta 2GPI. Ab binding to beta 2GPI on a microtiter plate or anionic phospholipid membrane is dependent upon the marked increase in avidity provided by engagement of both Ag binding sites of a given IgG molecule. The data support the hypothesis that phospholipid-bound beta 2GPI is the physiologic target of aCL.

Antibodies, Anticardiolipin↗

The antiphospholipid antibody syndrome: new pieces to the puzzle.

Recent data strongly suggest that "antiphospholipid" autoantibodies are directed against a variety of phospholipid-binding plasma proteins including beta 2GPI, prothrombin, factor Xa, protein C, and protein S. Further characterization of the spectrum of antibody specificity and affinity in individual patients may explain the varied clinical presentations associated with aPLs. The next several years hold great promise for a better understanding of the pathophysiology of the aPL syndrome and the precise role of aPLs in the pathogenesis of thrombosis and recurrent fetal loss.

Antibodies, Antiphospholipid↗