Endothelial cell activation by antiphospholipid antibodies is modulated by Kruppel-like transcription factors

Blood. 2011 Jun 9;117(23):6383-91. doi: 10.1182/blood-2010-10-313072. Epub 2011 Apr 11.

Abstract

Antiphospholipid syndrome is characterized by thrombosis and/or recurrent pregnancy loss in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APLAs). The majority of APLAs are directed against phospholipid-binding proteins, particularly β₂-glycoprotein I (β₂GPI). Anti-β₂GPI antibodies activate endothelial cells in a β₂GPI-dependent manner through a pathway that involves NF-κB. Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) play a critical role in regulating the endothelial response to inflammatory stimuli. We hypothesized that activation of endothelial cells by APLA/anti-β₂GPI antibodies might be associated with decreased expression of KLFs, which in turn might facilitate cellular activation mediated through NF-κB. Our experimental results confirmed this hypothesis, demonstrating markedly decreased expression of KLF2 and KLF4 after incubation of cells with APLA/anti-β₂GPI antibodies. Restoration of KLF2 or KLF4 levels inhibited NF-κB transcriptional activity and blocked APLA/anti-β₂GPI-mediated endothelial activation despite NF-κB p65 phosphorylation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated that inhibition of NF-κB transcriptional activity by KLFs reflects sequestration of the cotranscriptional activator CBP/p300, making this cofactor unavailable to NF-κB. These findings suggest that the endothelial response to APLA/anti-β₂GPI antibodies reflects competition between KLFs and NF-κB for their common cofactor, CBP/p300. Taken together, these observations are the first to implicate the KLFs as novel participants in the endothelial proinflammatory response to APLA/anti-β₂GPI antibodies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Habitual / immunology
  • Abortion, Habitual / metabolism
  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / immunology
  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / metabolism*
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / immunology
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Endothelial Cells / immunology
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 4
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / immunology
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Transcription Factor RelA / immunology
  • Transcription Factor RelA / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic / immunology
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I / immunology
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I / metabolism
  • p300-CBP Transcription Factors / immunology
  • p300-CBP Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
  • KLF2 protein, human
  • KLF4 protein, human
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 4
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
  • RELA protein, human
  • Transcription Factor RelA
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I
  • p300-CBP Transcription Factors