Epitope mapping of ADAMTS13 autoantibodies in acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Blood. 2004 Jun 15;103(12):4514-9. doi: 10.1182/blood-2003-12-4165. Epub 2004 Feb 19.

Abstract

Severe deficiency of the von Willebrand factor (VWF)-cleaving protease ADAMTS13 can lead to thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a disease associated with the widespread formation of platelet-rich thrombi in many organs. Autoantibodies that inactivate ADAMTS13 are the most frequent cause of acquired TTP. Little is known about epitope specificity and reactivity of anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies. In this study, a series of ADAMTS13 domains were expressed in Escherichia coli, and the reactivity of purified recombinant fragments with anti-ADAMTS13 auto-antibodies from 25 patients with severe ADAMTS13 deficiency was evaluated in vitro. All TTP plasmas contained antibodies directed against the cysteine-rich spacer (cys-rich/spacer) domain of ADAMTS13. In the plasma of 3 patients, antibodies were detected that reacted exclusively with the cys-rich/spacer domain, underscoring the importance of this region for functional activity of ADAMTS13. In 64% of the plasmas, antibodies reacted with the 2 CUB domains, and in 56% they reacted with the isolated first thrombospondin type 1 (TSP-1) repeat and with the compound fragment consisting of the catalytic, the disintegrin-like, and the TSP1-1 domain. Less frequently, in 28% of the plasmas, antibodies reacted with the TSP1 repeats 2 to 8. Unexpectedly, antibodies reacted with the propeptide region in 20% of the plasmas. In conclusion, this study shows that even though anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies react with multiple domains of the protease, the cys-rich/spacer domain is consistently involved in antibody reactivity.

MeSH terms

  • ADAM Proteins
  • ADAMTS13 Protein
  • Adult
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Epitopes / analysis
  • Escherichia coli
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Metalloendopeptidases / chemistry
  • Metalloendopeptidases / genetics
  • Metalloendopeptidases / immunology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics
  • Peptide Mapping
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / blood
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / immunology*
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • von Willebrand Factor / immunology*

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Epitopes
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • von Willebrand Factor
  • ADAM Proteins
  • Metalloendopeptidases
  • ADAMTS13 Protein
  • ADAMTS13 protein, human