Atherosclerosis and the antiphospholipid syndrome: a link unravelled?

Lupus. 1998:7 Suppl 2:S140-3. doi: 10.1177/096120339800700231.

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease that involves the arterial system. Recent data suggest that immune and autoimmune factors play a dominant role in mediating the progression of atherosclerosis. Among these factors, humoral response to modified forms of LDL and heat-shock proteins has been shown to be influential. The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) entails clinical manifestations that result from a hypercoagulable state. Antibodies to phospholipids and to beta2-glycoprotein I have been suggested to confer the tendency to thrombosis. In a set of recent studies, we have been able to show that generation of antiphospholipid antibodies in mice is associated with enhanced atherosclerosis. These findings imply that APS and atherosclerosis may share a common etiologic background, which may have direct implications for the management of both conditions.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / immunology*
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / blood
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / complications*
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / immunology
  • Arteriosclerosis / blood
  • Arteriosclerosis / etiology*
  • Arteriosclerosis / immunology
  • Autoantigens / immunology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / blood
  • Autoimmune Diseases / complications*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Blood Platelets / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endothelium, Vascular / pathology
  • Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunization
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / immunology
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / metabolism
  • Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Membrane Proteins*
  • Mice
  • Monocytes / pathology
  • Receptors, Immunologic / physiology
  • Receptors, Lipoprotein*
  • Receptors, Scavenger
  • Scavenger Receptors, Class B
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
  • Autoantigens
  • Glycoproteins
  • Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • Receptors, Lipoprotein
  • Receptors, Scavenger
  • Scarb1 protein, mouse
  • Scavenger Receptors, Class B
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I
  • oxidized low density lipoprotein