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S A Krilis

Publications and source records attributed to S A Krilis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

International consensus statement on an update of the classification criteria for definite antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).

New clinical, laboratory and experimental insights, since the 1999 publication of the Sapporo preliminary classification criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), had been addressed at a workshop in Sydney, Australia, before the Eleventh International Congress on antiphospholipid antibodies. In this document, we appraise the existing evidence on clinical and laboratory features of APS addressed during the forum. Based on this, we propose amendments to the Sapporo criteria. We also provide definitions on features of APS that were not included in the updated criteria.

Antibodies, Antiphospholipid↗

Pathogenic role of anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I antibodies in antiphospholipid associated fetal loss: characterisation of beta 2-glycoprotein I binding to trophoblast cells and functional effects of anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I antibodies in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Antiphospholipid antibodies reacting with beta2-glycoprotein I (beta 2GPI) have been associated with recurrent fetal loss and pregnancy complications. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether specific mutations in the phospholipid binding site of beta 2GPI might affect its binding to trophoblast and in turn the anti-beta 2GPI antibody induced functional effects. METHODS: beta 2GPI adhesion to trophoblast was evaluated as human monoclonal IgM or polyclonal IgG anti-beta 2GPI antibody binding to trophoblast monolayers cultured (1) in complete medium; (2) in serum-free medium; (3) after serum starvation in the presence of purified human beta 2GPI; or (4) in the presence of beta 2GPI with single or multiple mutations in the amino acid loop Cys(281)-Lys-Asn-Lys-Glu-Lys-Lys-Cys(288). The effect of anti-beta 2GPI binding to trophoblast was evaluated as chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) mRNA expression, and protein release by RT-PCR and radioimmunoassay, respectively. RESULTS: beta 2GPI adhesion to trophoblast and its consequent recognition by the specific antibodies were inversely proportional to the mutation number in the phospholipid binding site. Anti-beta 2GPI antibodies reduced gonadotropin release, hormone dependent hCG mRNA expression, and protein synthesis in the presence of beta 2GPI, while the addition of the mutants or the absence of beta 2GPI had no effect. CONCLUSIONS: beta 2GPI binds to trophoblast in vitro through its fifth domain, as reported for endothelial cells, and can be recognised by anti-beta 2GPI antibodies; the antibody binding downregulates trophoblast hCG synthesis and secretion. Such a mechanism might contribute to defective placentation in women with fetal loss associated with the antiphospholipid syndrome.

Antiphospholipid Syndrome↗

Anti-beta2-glycoprotein I autoantibodies require an antigen density threshold, consistent with divalent binding.

Autoantibodies binding beta2-glycoprotein I (B2GPI) are an important finding in the antiphospholipid syndrome. While antibodies from mice or rabbits immunized with B2GPI readily bind B2GPI coated on a polystyrene microwell plate, anti-B2GPI autoantibodies only do so when using a modified microwell plate with a negatively charged surface. This study demonstrates that, for the detection of anti-B2GPI autoantibodies in an ELISA using modified plates, an antigen coating concentration threshold exists, such that minimal or no binding occurs below a certain coating concentration of antigen, even though antigen is easily demonstrable on the plate. This is consistent with the hypothesis that autoantibodies require divalent binding to B2GPI for detection, as sufficient antigen density for two protein molecules to be sufficiently close to enable divalent binding would only be expected to occur at higher coating concentrations. Several mutant forms of B2GPI developed for epitope determination experiments are shown to have decreased binding to microtitre plates compared to wild-type. If wild-type and mutants are assayed for antibody binding near the threshold a significant diminution in binding to mutants occurs that is the result of inadequate binding to the plate, but could be misinterpreted as the result of interruption of an epitope by the mutation.

Animals↗

Distinguishing features of anti-beta2 glycoprotein I antibodies between patients with leprosy and the antiphospholipid syndrome.

Anticardiolipin (ACA), anti-beta2 glycoprotein I (beta2GPI), and antiprothrombin antibodies of IgG and IgM classes were quantitated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in 176 untreated leprosy patients across the histopathological spectrum. Positivity rates ranged from 21% (IgG ACA) to 30% (IgM anti-prothrombin) versus 4% in healthy controls (p <10(-2) to 10(-3)). Levels of IgM anti-beta2GPI and IgG ACA were significantly higher in lepromatous leprosy and multibacillary patient subgroups. IgG3 was the most common subclass reactive to both beta2GPI and prothrombin in selected high-titer leprosy sera, unlike antibodies from patients with the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) largely restricted to IgG2. In leprosy patients, but not in the APS control group, there was no statistical correlation between ACA and anti-beta2GPI antibody levels. Likewise, a large fraction of anti-beta2GPI positive sera (36/45 and 28/44 for IgG and IgM, respectively) were unreactive in the standard ACA assay. Most assayed anti-beta2GPI antibodies from leprosy patients showed (i) ability to recognize both human and bovine beta2GPI immobilized on non-irradiated polystyrene plates, (ii) concentration-dependent inhibition of binding by cardiolipin, and (iii) relatively high avidity binding to fluid-phase beta2GPI, thereby differing from those found in APS. Finally, the location of the major epitopic region on the beta2GPI molecule targeted by autoantibodies was different in leprosy and APS, as assessed by direct binding to domain I- and V-deleted mutants and competition with the mouse monoclonal antibody 8C3, directed at domain I. Thus, leprosy-related antiphospholipid antibodies comprise persistent IgG and IgM anti-beta2GPI that differ from APS-related ones with respect to IgG subclass, avidity and epitope specificity, possibly reflecting distinct pathophysiological significance.

Adolescent↗

Human tryptase epsilon (PRSS22), a new member of the chromosome 16p13.3 family of human serine proteases expressed in airway epithelial cells.

Probing of the GenBank expressed sequence tag (EST) data base with varied human tryptase cDNAs identified two truncated ESTs that subsequently were found to encode overlapping portions of a novel human serine protease (designated tryptase epsilon or protease, serine S1 family member 22 (PRSS22)). The tryptase epsilon gene resides on chromosome 16p13.3 within a 2.5-Mb complex of serine protease genes. Although at least 7 of the 14 genes in this complex encode enzymatically active proteases, only one tryptase epsilon-like gene was identified. The trachea and esophagus were found to contain the highest steady-state levels of the tryptase epsilon transcript in adult humans. Although the tryptase epsilon transcript was scarce in adult human lung, it was present in abundance in fetal lung. Thus, the tryptase epsilon gene is expressed in the airways in a developmentally regulated manner that is different from that of other human tryptase genes. At the cellular level, tryptase epsilon is a major product of normal pulmonary epithelial cells, as well as varied transformed epithelial cell lines. Enzymatically active tryptase epsilon is also constitutively secreted from these cells. The amino acid sequence of human tryptase epsilon is 38-44% identical to those of human tryptase alpha, tryptase beta I, tryptase beta II, tryptase beta III, transmembrane tryptase/tryptase gamma, marapsin, and Esp-1/testisin. Nevertheless, comparative protein structure modeling and functional studies using recombinant material revealed that tryptase epsilon has a substrate preference distinct from that of its other family members. These data indicate that the products of the chromosome 16p13.3 complex of tryptase genes evolved to carry out varied functions in humans.

Adult↗

Mast cells/basophils in the peripheral blood of allergic individuals who are HIV-1 susceptible due to their surface expression of CD4 and the chemokine receptors CCR3, CCR5, and CXCR4.

A population of metachromatic cells with mast cell (MC) and basophil features was identified recently in the peripheral blood of patients with several allergic disorders. This study now shows that these metachromatic cells express on their surface the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonRI), CD4, and the chemokine receptors CCR3, CCR5, and CXCR4, but not the T-cell surface protein CD3 and the monocyte/macrophage surface protein CD68. This population of MCs/basophils can be maintained ex vivo for at least 2 weeks, and a comparable population of cells can be generated in vitro from nongranulated hematopoietic CD3(-)/CD4(+)/CD117(-) progenitors. Both populations of MCs/basophils are susceptible to an M-tropic strain of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1). Finally, many patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome have HIV-1-infected MCs/basophils in their peripheral blood. Although it is well known that HIV-1 can infect CD4(+) T cells and monocytes, this finding is the first example of a human MC or basophil shown to be susceptible to the retrovirus. (Blood. 2001;97:3484-3490)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Tryptase 4, a new member of the chromosome 17 family of mouse serine proteases.

Genomic blot analysis raised the possibility that uncharacterized tryptase genes reside on chromosome 17 at the complex containing the three genes that encode mouse mast cell protease (mMCP) 6, mMCP-7, and transmembrane tryptase (mTMT). Probing of GenBank's expressed sequence tag data base with these three tryptase cDNAs resulted in the identification of an expressed sequence tag that encodes a portion of a novel mouse serine protease (now designated mouse tryptase 4 (mT4) because it is the fourth member of this family). 5'- and 3'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends approaches were carried out to deduce the nucleotide sequence of the full-length mT4 transcript. This information was then used to clone its approximately 5.0-kilobase pair gene. Chromosome mapping analysis of its gene, sequence analysis of its transcript, and comparative protein structure modeling of its translated product revealed that mT4 is a new member of the chromosome 17 family of mouse tryptases. mT4 is 40-44% identical to mMCP-6, mMCP-7, and mTMT, and this new serine protease has all of the structural features of a functional tryptase. Moreover, mT4 is enzymatically active when expressed in insect cells. Due to its 17-mer hydrophobic domain at its C terminus, mT4 is a membrane-anchored tryptase more analogous to mTMT than the other members of its family. As assessed by RNA blot, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and/or in situ hybridization analysis, mT4 is expressed in interleukin-5-dependent mouse eosinophils, as well as in ovaries and testes. The observation that recombinant mT4 is preferentially retained in the endoplasmic reticulum of transiently transfected COS-7 cells suggests a convertase-like role for this integral membrane serine protease.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Impaired thrombin generation in beta 2-glycoprotein I null mice.

Autoimmune antibodies to beta(2)-glycoprotein I (beta2GPI) have been proposed to be clinically relevant because of their strong association with thrombosis, miscarriage, and thrombocytopenia. By using a homologous recombination approach, beta2GPI-null mice were generated to begin to understand the physiologic and pathologic role of this prominent plasma protein in mammals. When beta2GPI heterozygotes on a 129/Sv/C57BL/6 mixed genetic background were intercrossed, only 8.9% of the resulting 336 offspring possessed both disrupted alleles. These data suggest that beta2GPI plays a beneficial role in implantation and/or fetal development in at least some mouse strains. Although those beta2GPI-null mice that were born appeared to be relatively normal anatomically and histologically, subsequent analysis revealed that they possessed an impaired in vitro ability to generate thrombin relative to wild type mice. Thus, beta2GPI also appears to play an important role in thrombin-mediated coagulation.

Alleles↗

Detection of 'antiphospholipid' antibodies: a single chromogenic assay of thrombin generation sensitively detects lupus anticoagulants, anticardiolipin antibodies, plus antibodies binding beta(2)-glycoprotein I and prothrombin.

The diagnosis of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) requires both a typical clinical event plus a persistently positive test in an assay for either anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies or a lupus anticoagulant (LA). Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) specific for autoantibodies against beta(2)-glycoprotein I (beta(2)GPI) or prothrombin are also used, but none of the tests are adequately sensitive or specific. A chromogenic assay was developed that measures the effect of test antibody or plasma samples on in vitro thrombin formation. It is able to detect both LA and beta(2)GPI-dependent aCL antibodies and may have greater specificity for APS than currently available tests. Using this method various monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) were examined, from mice immunized with beta(2)GPI, mice with a spontaneous animal model of APS, and from three humans with APS. Plasma and affinity purified antibodies from patients with APS and control groups were also examined. Thrombin inhibition was more sensitive to perturbation by MoAbs than a combination of tests for LA (P < 0.05) and at lower antibody concentrations (12.5 microg/ml versus 100 microg/ml). There was a significant correlation between inhibition of thrombin generation and the level of MoAb reactivity to beta(2)GPI (r = 0.90; P < 0.001) but not to CL (r = 0.06; P = 0.76). Plasma and affinity purified antibodies from patients with APS also inhibited thrombin generation, and significantly more so than patients with aPL from causes other than APS. APS patient samples showed thrombin inhibition in the presence of anti-beta(2)GPI or antiprothrombin antibodies. All MoAbs binding beta(2)GPI showed inhibition of thrombin generation, while MoAbs binding domain I of beta(2)GPI had more LA effect.

Animals↗

Epitope studies with anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I antibodies from autoantibody and immunized sources.

This paper examines the methodology of anti-beta(2)-glycoprotein I (beta(2)-GPI) epitope determination and provides further epitope studies using human sera containing anti-beta(2)-GPI autoantibodies. Studies in this field may be misleading as the antigen coating density using mutant forms of beta(2)-GPI may be below the threshold required for monogamous divalent binding by low affinity anti-beta(2)-GPI autoantibodies, while being easily detected by high affinity anti-beta(2)-GPI from immunized animals. The antigen density threshold effect is found in anti-beta(2)-GPI autoantibodies from humans and from monoclonal anti-beta(2)-GPI derived from mice with models of autoimmune disease. Anti-beta(2)-GPI from an autoimmune mouse and from 18/21 human sera did not bind above background levels to a domain-I-deleted mutant. In addition, single point mutations in domain I result in dramatic changes in the binding of many human sera containing anti-beta(2)-GPI. These findings support a conclusion that domain I of beta(2)-GPI contains significant epitopes for the anti-beta(2)-GPI antibodies found in the antiphospholipid syndrome.

Animals↗

Identification of a new member of the tryptase family of mouse and human mast cell proteases which possesses a novel COOH-terminal hydrophobic extension.

Mapping of the tryptase locus on chromosome 17 revealed a novel gene 2.3 kilobase 3' of the mouse mast cell protease (mMCP) 6 gene. This 3.7-kilobase gene encodes the first example of a protease in the tryptase family that contains a membrane-spanning segment located at its COOH terminus. Comparative structural studies indicated that the putative transmembrane tryptase (TMT) possesses a unique substrate-binding cleft. As assessed by RNA blot analyses, mTMT is expressed in mice in both strain- and tissue-dependent manners. Thus, different transcriptional and/or post-transcriptional mechanisms are used to control the expression of mTMT in vivo. Analysis of the corresponding tryptase locus in the human genome resulted in the isolation and characterization of the hTMT gene. The hTMT transcript is expressed in numerous tissues and is also translated. Analysis of the tryptase family of genes in mice and humans now indicates that a primordial serine protease gene duplicated early and often during the evolution of mammals to generate a panel of homologous tryptases in each species that differ in their tissue expression, substrate specificities, and physical properties.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Human tryptases alpha and beta/II are functionally distinct due, in part, to a single amino acid difference in one of the surface loops that forms the substrate-binding cleft.

Tryptases alpha and beta/II were expressed in insect cells to try to ascertain why human mast cells express these two nearly identical granule proteases. In contrast to that proposed by others, residue -3 in the propeptide did not appear to be essential for the three-dimensional folding, post-translational modification, and/or activation of this family of serine proteases. Both recombinant tryptases were functional and bound the active-site inhibitor diisopropyl fluorophosphate. However, they differed in their ability to cleave varied trypsin-susceptible chromogenic substrates. Structural modeling analyses revealed that tryptase alpha differs from tryptase beta/II in that it possesses an Asp, rather than a Gly, in one of the loops that form its substrate-binding cleft. A site-directed mutagenesis approach was therefore carried out to determine the importance of this residue. Because the D215G derivative of tryptase alpha exhibited potent enzymatic activity against fibrinogen and other tryptase beta/II-susceptible substrates, Asp215 dominantly restricts the substrate specificity of tryptase alpha. These data indicate for the first time that tryptases alpha and beta/II are functionally different human proteases. Moreover, the variation of just a single amino acid in the substrate-binding cleft of a tryptase can have profound consequences in the regulation of its enzymatic activity and/or substrate preference.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of basophilic cells that express mast cell granule proteases in the peripheral blood of asthma, allergy, and drug-reactive patients.

Metachromatic cells in the peripheral blood of patients with asthma, allergy, or an allergic drug reaction were evaluated for their nuclear morphology, surface expression of the mast cell (MC) marker c-kit, surface expression of the basophil marker Bsp-1, and granule expression of MC proteases. Consistent with previous findings by others, Bsp-1+/metachromatic cells represented <1% of the cells in the peripheral blood of normal individuals. These cells generally contained segmented nuclei. Very little, if any, tryptase (Try), chymase (Chy), or carboxypeptidase A (CPA) was found in their granules, and very little, if any, c-kit was observed on their surfaces. The number of metachromatic cells increased in the peripheral blood of the three groups of patients. Like the basophils in normal individuals, most of these metachromatic cells contained segmented nuclei and expressed Bsp-1. However, in contrast to the basophils in normal individuals, many of the metachromatic cells in the three patient groups expressed c-kit, Try, Chy, and/or CPA. That the metachromatic cells in the blood of our patients have some features of MCs and some features of basophils suggests that human basophils and MCs are derived from a common progenitor. As assessed by the chloroacetate esterase cytochemical assay, the immunoreactive Chy in the peripheral blood of these patients is enzymatically active. Because MC proteases regulate numerous immunologic and other biologic systems, the expression of Try, Chy, and/or CPA in a peripheral blood-localized cell in an individual having asthma, allergy, or an allergic drug reaction has important clinical implications.

Acute Disease↗

Anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I autoantibodies from patients with the "antiphospholipid" syndrome bind to beta 2-glycoprotein I with low affinity: dimerization of beta 2-glycoprotein I induces a significant increase in anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I antibody affinity.

"Antiphospholipid" autoantibodies are associated with arterial and venous thrombosis, recurrent fetal loss, and thrombocytopenia. At present, the best-characterized antigenic target for these autoantibodies (or Abs) is the phospholipid-binding protein beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2GPI). These Abs bind beta2GPI only in the presence of negatively charged phospholipids or microtiter polystyrene plates that have been specially treated to give the surface a negative charge. To determine whether the binding of these Abs to beta2GPI on negatively charged surfaces is dependent on increased density or neo-epitopes formed as a consequence of a conformational change on beta2GPI, we generated mutants of beta2GPI by site-directed mutagenesis and assessed the binding characteristics of anti-beta2GPI Abs to these mutants. Our results demonstrate that mutant F307*, which spontaneously forms significant dimerization, is bound best by all the anti-beta2GPI Abs in an anti-beta2GPI ELISA using irradiated polystyrene microtiter plates. In addition, these Abs bound mutant F307* coated onto standard polystyrene microtiter wells in the absence of phospholipid, whereas there was minimal binding with wild-type and mutant F307*/C288A, which formed minimal dimerization. Affinity-purified anti-beta2GPI Abs from patients with the antiphospholipid syndrome demonstrated significantly higher binding affinity for mutant F307* in fluid phase than for wild-type or mutant F307*/C288A of beta2GPI. These results demonstrate that autoantibody binding to beta2GPI is intrinsically of low affinity and that the binding is dependent on the density of the Ag and not on neo-epitope formation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Human beta 2-glycoprotein I binds to endothelial cells through a cluster of lysine residues that are critical for anionic phospholipid binding and offers epitopes for anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I antibodies.

Beta 2-Glycoprotein I (beta 2GPI) is a phospholipid-binding protein recognized by serum autoantibodies from the anti-phospholipid syndrome both in cardiolipin- and beta 2GPI-coated plates. We found that: 1) recombinant wild-type beta 2GPI bound to HUVEC and was recognized by both human monoclonal IgM and affinity-purified polyclonal IgG anti-beta 2GPI anti-phospholipid syndrome Abs; and 2) a single amino acid change from Lys286 to Glu significantly reduced endothelial adhesion. Double and triple mutants (from Lys284,287 to Glu284,287, from Lys286,287 to Glu286,287, and from Lys284,286,287 to Glu284,286,287) completely abolished endothelial binding. A synthetic peptide (P1) spanning the sequence Glu274-Cys288 of the beta 2GPI fifth domain still displayed endothelial adhesion. Another peptide (P8), identical with P1 except that Cys281 and Cys288 were substituted with serine residues, did not bind to HUVEC. Anti-beta 2GPI Abs, once bound to P1 adhered to HUVEC, induced E-selectin expression and up-regulated IL-6 secretion. Control experiments conducted with irrelevant Abs as well as with the P8 peptide did not show any endothelial Ab binding nor E-selectin and IL-6 modulation. Our results suggest that: 1) beta 2GPI binds to endothelial cells through its fifth domain; 2) the major phospholipid-binding site that mediates the binding to anionic phospholipids is also involved in endothelial binding; 3) HUVEC provide a suitable surface for beta 2GPI binding comparable to that displayed by anionic phospholipids dried on microtiter wells; and 4) the formation of the complex between beta 2GPI and the specific Abs leads to endothelial activation in vitro.

Amino Acid Sequence↗