Immunolocalization of β2-glycoprotein I (apolipoprotein-h) to human atherosclerotic plaques: Potential implications for lesion progression

Statins prevent endothelial cell activation induced by antiphospholipid (anti-?2-glycoprotein I) antibodies: Effect on the proadhesive and proinflammatory phenotype

“…The hypothesis that aPL, besides their ability to mediate a thrombophilic diathesis and an adverse pregnancy outcome, may have a potential role in the accelerated arterial disease observed in APS is related to their ability to induce endothelial activation, which could be relevant in the onset of the atherosclerotic process (15). Additional findings appear to support such a hypothesis: ␤ 2 GPI has been shown to be localized in atherosclerotic plaques (16), and mice lacking the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor develop accelerated atherosclerosis after active immunization with ␤ 2 GPI (17). Moreover, in vitro studies have shown that aPL cross-react with oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) (18), and that they can even enhance the uptake of ox-LDL by macrophages (19).…”

Antiphospholipid syndrome, antiphospholipid antibodies, and atherosclerosis

“…It has been demonstrated that human atherosclerotic lesions possesses β2GPI in abundance. β2GPI was distributed both intracellularly and extracellularly and was most commonly present in the subendothelial regions of the atherosclerotic plaque [28]. CD4+ cells were found to co-localize in the areas rich in β2GPI.…”

Lipoprotein(a) Oxidation, Autoimmune and Atherosclerosis

“…It was reported that β 2 -GPI was present in the sera of autoimmune diseases and was characterized by its ability to bind to negative charged molecules, including lipoproteins [66][67][68][69]. Recently, studies showed that β 2 -GPI specifically interacted with LDL as well as ox-LDL, and formed complexes in the intima of atherosclerotic lesions, and then, these complexes were taken up by macrophages via anti-β 2 -GPI autoantibody-mediated phagocytosis, contributing to the development of atherosclerosis [70].…”