B. Caronti et al., beta(2)-glycoprotein I (beta(2)-GPI) mRNA is expressed by several cell types involved in antiphospholipid syndrome-related tissue damage, CLIN EXP IM, 115(1), 1999, pp. 214-219
We report here the expression of beta(2)-GPI mRNA by cell types involved in
the pathophysiology of the anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS), i.e. endothel
ial cells as a target of autoantibodies in the APS, astrocytes and neurones
involved in APS of the central nervous system (CNS). Lymphocytes were also
included in the study, as it has been demonstrated that patients with syst
emic lupus erythematosus-associated CNS diseases have serum anti-lymphocyte
antibodies cross-reacting with brain antigens, and intrathecally synthesiz
ed anti-neurone antibodies. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction
followed by restriction enzyme digestion of the product obtained demonstra
ted the presence of beta(2)-GPI mRNA in all cell types here tested, culture
d both in presence and absence of fetal calf serum. In both culture conditi
ons, the same cell types were immunoreactive to an anti-beta(2)-GPI MoAb, a
s determined by indirect immunofluorescence technique. Taken together, thes
e results indicate a direct cell synthesis of beta(2)-GPI, suggesting an an
tigenic function of beta(2)-GPI in the APS, including the CNS disease that
occurs in this syndrome.