A systematic analysis of sequences of human antiphospholipid and anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibodies: the importance of somatic mutations and certain sequence motifs.

Previous studies have suggested the importance of somatic mutations and certain residues in the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) implicated in the pathogenesis of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). The authors tested this hypothesis by carrying out a systematic analysis of all published aPL sequences. Each aPL variable region sequence was aligned to the closest germline counterpart in the VBASE Sequence Directory by using DNAPLOT software, allowing analysis of nucleotide homology and distribution of somatic mutations. The probability that this distribution arose as a result of antigen-driven accumulation of replacement mutations in the CDRs was tested statistically. There was no preferential gene or family use in the 36 aPL sequences identified. Immunoglobulin (Ig) M aPL had few somatic mutations compared with IgG. Of the IgG aPL, 9 of 14 showed evidence of antigen-driven accumulation of replacement mutations in the CDRs. Multinomial analysis allowed a clearer statistical identification of sequences that had been subject to antigen drive. The more specific IgM aPL and some IgG aPL displayed an accumulation of arginine, asparagine, and lysine residues in CDRs. High-specificity binding in IgG aPL, but not in more specific IgM aPL, is conferred by antigen-driven somatic mutation. This may in part be caused by an accumulation of arginine, asparagine, and lysine residues in the CDRs, which are germlines encoded in the more specific IgM aPL, but often arise because of somatic mutation in IgG aPL. An understanding of the role of arginine, asparagine, and lysine residues in the binding of pathogenic aPL to phospholipids, and to beta(2)-glycoprotein I, may eventually help in the development of drugs to interfere with those interactions, and thereby improve the treatment of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

Giles IP ，Haley JD ，Nagl S ，Isenberg DA ，Latchman DS ，Rahman A ... -  《SEMINARS IN ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM》

Generation and characterization of three monoclonal IgM antiphospholipid antibodies recognizing different phospholipid antigens.

Buschmann C ，Fischer C ，Ochsenhirt V ，Neukirch C ，Lackner KJ ，von Landenberg P ... -  《ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES》

Autoantibodies, lupus and the science of sabotage.

Rahman A 《RHEUMATOLOGY》

The critical role of arginine residues in the binding of human monoclonal antibodies to cardiolipin.

Giles I ，Lambrianides N ，Latchman D ，Chen P ，Chukwuocha R ，Isenberg D ，Rahman A ... -  《-》

Structural and functional characterization of a human IgG monoclonal antiphospholipid antibody.

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are likely involved in the pathogenesis of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). This study analyzes the structural and functional characteristics of a human monoclonal aPL (HL7G) from the IgG2 subtype with λ light chains generated from a patient with primary APS and recurrent cerebral microemboli. DNA encoding the variable region of heavy and light chains of the antibody was sequenced, analyzed, and compared to HL5B a previously described monoclonal aPL from the same patient. Both antibodies are derived from the same germline genes. HL7G had similar but more extensive somatic mutations in the CDR1 and 2 regions than HL5B, indicating that both antibodies are closely related and derived by a T cell-dependent antigen driven process. In ELISA assays HL7G bound to cardiolipin and several other phospholipid antigens in the absence of protein cofactors. Different from HL5B this aPL bound to β2-glycoprotein I (β2GPII). This suggests that reactivity of aPL against β2GPI is determined by only few specific amino acid exchanges. HL7G was able to induce tissue factor (TF) as one of the procoagulant effects of aPL. Our data suggest that the binding specificity of aPL is only of limited value to predict the biological effect and the pathophysiological impact of the antibodies.

Prinz N ，Häuser F ，Lorenz M ，Lackner KJ ，von Landenberg P ... -  《-》