New developments in viral peptides and APL induction

The associations of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) with thrombosis and f etal death are well recognized, but the mechanism(s) that induce their prod uction are not. We demonstrated induction of pathogenic aPL antibodies by i mmunization with foreign beta(2)-GPI, or synthetic peptides representing th e PL-binding site of the beta(2)-GPI. These antibodies caused intrauterine fetal death and transverse myelopathy due to spinal cord infarction in mice , and activated endothelial cells ill vitro. We also induced aPL in mice by immunization with PL-binding viral peptides and observed their pathogenic effects. This study demonstrated the pathogenic effects of aPL antibodies i nduced by immunization with a human CMV-derived PL-binding synthetic peptid e. We hypothesize that in APS patients aPL is induced by beta(2)-GPI-like P L-binding products of human common bacteria or viruses. (C) 2000 Academic P ress.