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J Arnout

Publications and source records attributed to J Arnout.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Dimers of beta 2-glycoprotein I mimic the in vitro effects of beta 2-glycoprotein I-anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I antibody complexes.

Anti-beta(2)-glycoprotein I antibodies are thought to cause lupus anticoagulant activity by forming bivalent complexes with beta(2)-glycoprotein I (beta(2)GPI). To test this hypothesis, chimeric fusion proteins were constructed of the dimerization domain (apple 4) of factor XI and beta(2)GPI. Both a covalent (apple 4-beta(2)GPI) and a noncovalent (apple 4-C321S-beta(2)GPI) chimer were constructed. As controls, apple 2-beta(2)GPI and apple 4-C321S-beta(2)GPI-W316S, in which beta(2)GPI-W316S is not able to bind to phospholipids, were made. In a phospholipid binding assay, apple 4-beta(2)GPI and apple 4-C321S-beta(2)GPI were able to bind to phospholipids with an affinity 35 times higher than that of plasma-derived beta(2)GPI and apple 2-beta(2)GPI. Apple 4-C321S-beta(2)GPI-W316S did not bind at all. Only apple 4-beta(2)GPI and apple 4-C321S-beta(2)GPI were able to bind to adhered platelets as shown by immunofluorescence. Using the prothrombin time, which was the most responsive coagulation assay, the clotting time was approximately doubled when 200 microg/ml apple 4-beta(2)GPI or apple 4-C321S-beta(2)GPI was added. Addition of 200 microg/ml plasma-derived beta(2)GPI, apple 2-beta(2)GPI, or apple 4-C321S-beta(2)GPI-W316S did not affect clotting time. Clotting time could be corrected with the addition of extra phospholipids, which is indicative for lupus anticoagulant activity. An additional increase in clotting times for apple 4-beta(2)GPI or apple 4-C321S-beta(2)GPI was achieved by the addition of monoclonal antibodies against beta(2)GPI. In conclusion, dimerization of beta(2)GPI explains the in vitro observed effects of beta(2)GPI-anti-beta(2)GPI antibody complexes.

Animals↗

Comparative inhibitory activity of rofecoxib, meloxicam, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and naproxen on COX-2 versus COX-1 in healthy volunteers.

Steady-state inhibitory activity of rofecoxib (Vioxx) on COX-2 versus COX-1 was compared with that of commonly used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in 76 healthy volunteers randomized to placebo, rofecoxib 12.5 mg qd, rofecoxib 25 mg qd, diclofenac 50 mg tid, ibuprofen 800 mg tid, sodium naproxen 550 mg bid, or meloxicam 15 mg qd. All of these doses include the high end of the approved clinical dose range. Ex vivo whole-blood assays were used to determine the effect on COX-2 and COX-1 activity, respectively. Urinary prostanoids were also measured. Mean inhibition of COX-2 (measured as the weighted average inhibition [WAI] of lipopolysaccharide [LPS]-induced PGE2 generation over 8 hours on day 6 vs. baseline) was -2.4%, 66.7%, 69.2%, 77.5%, 93.9%, 71.4%, and 71.5% for placebo, rofecoxib 12.5 mg, rofecoxib 25 mg, meloxicam, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and naproxen, respectively. Corresponding values for mean inhibition of COX-1 (measured as TXB2 generation in clotting whole blood) were -5.15%, 7.98%, 6.65%, 53.3%, 49.5%, 88.7%, and 94.9%. Rofecoxib had no significant effect on urinary excretion of 11-dehydro TXB2, a COX-1-derived product. These data support the contention that rofecoxib is the only drug of the regimens tested that uniquely inhibits COX-2 without affecting COX-1.

Adolescent↗

The role of beta 2-glycoprotein I-dependent lupus anticoagulants in the pathogenesis of the antiphospholipid syndrome.

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is defined as the association of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) with arterial or venous thrombosis, recurrent fetal loss, thrombocytopenia or neurologic disorders. Some aPL can be detected via phospholipid dependent coagulation assays where they present as an aspecific coagulation inhibitor termed the lupus anticoagulant (LA). Other antibodies can be measured via immunological assays mostly via their capability to bind to immobilised cardiolipin and are therefore called anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL). Affinity purification of aCL led to the discovery that, in contrast to what the term antiphospholipid antibody could suggest, these autoimmune antibodies do not bind to negatively charged phospholipids per se but to beta-2-glycoprotein I (beta 2GPI), a phospholipid-binding protein eventually bound to phospholipid surfaces. LAs have been found to be directed towards either prothrombin or beta 2GPI bound to anionic phospholipids. Whereas clinical and animal experimental data clearly suggest a role for beta 2GPI-dependent aPL in the development of the APS, the pathogenic mechanism is not known. Interferences with several phospholipid dependent anticoagulant pathways have been proposed but none of these has received general acceptance. Based on clinical and experimental similarities with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, another syndrome of antibody mediated thrombosis, we proposed a model of prothrombotic cellular activation. This model, although supported by a number of experimental observations, does not provide a direct explanation for the recent observation that LA are more strongly associated with thrombosis than aCL. In order to study this, we raised murine monoclonal antibodies (moab) against human beta 2GPI. These antibodies, of which some had LA activities and others not, enabled us to study the interaction between beta 2GPI, antibody and phospholipids. In contrast to what was generally accepted, beta 2GPI appeared to have only low affinity for coagulation promoting phospholipids. In the presence of LA positive anti-beta 2GPI moabs, the affinity of beta 2GPI for phospholipids increased significantly. This appeared to be dependent on the formation of bivalent beta 2GPI-antibody complexes on the phospholipid surface. It is conceivable that such bivalent complexes also remain tightly attached to membranes of activated cells enabling further thrombosis promoting activation via Fc receptor interaction or the complement system, a hypothesis that is currently being investigated. Further studies also showed that our LA positive anti-beta 2GPI moabs have a potential for the production of LA control specimens, that could be made available to routine hemostasis laboratories to assess intra-laboratory precision of LA testing, to manufacturers to produce highly sensitive assay systems and to control batch-to-batch variability of their reagents and to organizations involved in external quality assessment. In conclusion this work has enabled us to understand the molecular mechanism by which certain autoimmune antibodies found in patients with APS prolong coagulation assays in vitro. The antibodies generated are an important tool to improve the laboratory diagnosis of the lupus anticoagulant and may help us clarify the pathogenic role of autoimmune anti-beta 2GPI antibodies.

Animals↗

Antifactor VIII antibody inhibiting allogeneic but not autologous factor VIII in patients with mild hemophilia A.

Two unrelated patients with the same Arg2150His mutation in the factor VIII (FVIII) C1 domain, a residual FVIII activity of 0.09 IU/mL, and inhibitor titres of 300 and 6 Bethesda Units, respectively, were studied. Further analysis of patient LE, with the highest inhibitor titer, showed that (1) plasma or polyclonal IgG antibodies prepared from LE plasma inhibited the activity of allogeneic (wild-type) but not of self FVIII; (2) the presence of von Willebrand factor (vWF) increased by over 10-fold the inhibitory activity on wild-type FVIII; (3) the kinetics of FVIII inhibition followed a type II pattern, but in contrast to previously described type II inhibitors, LE IgG was potentiated by the presence of vWF instead of being in competition with it; (4) polyclonal LE IgG recognized the FVIII light chain in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the recombinant A3-C1 domains in an immunoprecipitation assay, indicating that at least part of LE antibodies reacted with the FVIII domain encompassing the mutation site; and (5) LE IgG inhibited FVIII activity by decreasing the rate of FVIIIa release from vWF, but LE IgG recognized an epitope distinct from ESH8, a murine monoclonal antibody exhibiting the same property. We conclude that the present inhibitors are unique in that they clearly distinguish wild-type from self, mutated FVIII. The inhibition of wild-type FVIII by LE antibody is enhanced by vWF and is associated with an antibody-dependent reduced rate of FVIIIa release from vWF.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

A new animal model of thrombophilia confirms that high plasma factor VIII levels are thrombogenic.

The thrombotic risk associated with elevated plasma levels of clotting factor VIII (FVIII) was investigated in a mouse model of thrombophilia. After the intravenous injection of recombinant human FVIII and/or of purified FVIII-free human von Willebrand factor (vWF), a controlled mild injury was inflicted on the carotid artery of FVB mice by irradiation with filtered green light in combination with intravenous injection of the dye rose bengal. Formation of a platelet-rich thrombus was continuously monitored for 40 min via transillumination and the thrombus size was measured via image analysis. Administration of recombinant human FVIII at 40 microg/kg led to initial FVIII plasma activities equivalent to 250% of normal human plasma FVIII activity and significantly enhanced thrombus size. Immunohistochemical staining illustrated the accumulation of FVIII within the thrombi. Human vWF, even at 10 mg/kg, had no effect on thrombus formation. The thrombotic tendency induced by FVIII was significantly inhibited by the administration of human vWF in a dose-dependent manner. Separate plasma measurements revealed that human FVIII has comparable affinities for human and murine vWF but that human vWF does not effectively bind murine platelets. The inhibition by human vWF of the thrombotic tendency induced by human FVIII could therefore be explained by a lack of accumulation of FVIII within the developing thrombus because of the reduced affinity of human vWF for murine platelets and the reduced occupancy of murine von Willebrand factor by human FVIII after injection of human vWF. These results show that vWF actively participates in FVIII accumulation in the arterial thrombus and provide experimental evidence for epidemiological findings that elevated plasma FVIII levels are associated with an increased thrombotic risk, also in arteries.

Animals↗

Effect of montelukast on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of warfarin in healthy volunteers.

Montelukast, a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist, is being developed for the treatment of asthma and related diseases. This study was designed to evaluate whether montelukast at clinically used dosage levels would interfere with the anticoagulant effect of warfarin. In a two-period, double-blind, randomized crossover study, 12 healthy male subjects received a single oral dose of 30 mg warfarin on the 7th day of a 12-day treatment with montelukast, 10 mg daily by mouth, or a placebo. Montelukast had no significant effect on the area under the plasma concentration-time curves and peak plasma concentrations of either R- or S-warfarin. However, slight but statistically significant decreases in time to peak concentration of both warfarin enantiomers and in elimination half-life of the less potent R-warfarin were observed in the presence of montelukast. These changes were not considered as clinically relevant. Montelukast had no significant effect on the anticoagulant effect of warfarin, as assessed by the international normalized ratio (INR) for prothrombin time (AUC0-144 and INR maximum). The results of this study suggest that a clinically important interaction between these drugs is unlikely to occur in patients requiring concomitant administration of both drugs.

Acetates↗

Lupus anticoagulant testing in Europe: an analysis of results from the first European Concerted Action on Thrombophilia (ECAT) survey using plasmas spiked with monoclonal antibodies against human beta2-glycoprotein I.

Lupus anticoagulants (LA) are immunoglobulins directed to either prothrombin or Beta-2-glycoprotein 1(beta1GPI) bound to phospholipids. Most patients with LA have both beta2GPI- and prothrombin-dependent antibodies. Several recent reports have shown that LA is more strongly associated with thrombosis than anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL). Therefore, an accurate detection of LA is of utmost importance in patients suspected of an antiphospholipid syndrome. We recently raised a series of murine monoclonal antibodies against human Beta-2-glycoprotein I (beta2GPI) with LA activity similar to affinity purified human beta2GPI-dependent LAs. A normal plasma pool, and the same pool spiked with LA positive anti-beta2GPI antibodies at two potency levels, were used as materials in an external quality assessment scheme organised by the European Concerted Action on Thrombosis (ECAT). Fifty nine laboratories participating in this trial were asked to test for the presence of a LA in the 3 samples submitted. The majority (82%) of the participants found the high potency LA sample to be positive. Only 37% of the laboratories considered the weak potency LA sample to be positive. The submission of a normal sample, a weakly positive sample and a clearly positive sample enabled us to compare the relative LA responsiveness of the different screening assays used. Clotting time ratios varied from 0.81 to 3.28 for sample B and from 0.66 to 5.32 for sample D. In general, the highest clotting time ratios were found with the dilute prothrombin time (dPT), the dilute Russell Viper Venom time (dRVVT) and the Kaolin Clotting time. The most frequently used screening tests were the aPTT and the dRVVT. With the various assay systems, LA responsiveness varied largely according to the reagents used. For the beta2GPI-dependent LA used in this study, PTT LA clearly showed the highest responsiveness among the aPTT reagents and Innovin among the dPT reagents. The present study also shows that many laboratories still rely on poorly responsive screening assays for their LA tests. Other laboratories rely on sensitive and more specific integrated test systems based on a sensitive screening assay with a low phospholipid content and a confirmatory test employing high phospholipid concentrations. The most used integrated system was dRVVT based. However, also here the LA responsiveness was largely reagent dependent. In conclusion, many laboratories still rely on poorly responsive screening assays by which weakly positive LA samples are misdiagnosed. LA positive anti-beta2GPI moabs have a potential for the unlimited production of LA control specimens, that may help hemostasis laboratories choose more LA responsive assay systems and to assess intralaboratory precision of their LA testing.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Mechanism and kinetics of factor VIII inactivation: study with an IgG4 monoclonal antibody derived from a hemophilia A patient with inhibitor.

The development of an immune response towards factor VIII (fVIII) remains a major complication for hemophilia A patients receiving fVIII infusions. The design of a specific therapy to restore unresponsiveness to fVIII has been hampered by the diversity of the anti-fVIII antibody. Molecular analysis of the specific immune response is therefore required. To this end, we have characterized an fVIII-specific human IgG4kappa monoclonal antibody (BO2C11) produced by a cell line derived from the memory B-cell repertoire of a hemophilia A patient with inhibitor. BO2C11 recognizes the C2 domain of fVIII and inhibits its binding to both von Willebrand factor (vWF) and phospholipids. It completely inhibits the procoagulant activity of native and activated fVIII, with a specific activity of approximately 7,000 Bethesda units/mg. vWF reduces the rate of fVIII inactivation by BO2C11. The antibody-fVIII association rate constant (kass approximately 7.4 x 10(5) M-1 s-1) is eightfold lower than that for vWF-fVIII association, whereas its dissociation rate constant (kdiss < or = 1 x 10(-5) s-1) is 100-fold lower than that for the vWF-fVIII complex, which suggests that BO2C11 almost irreversibly neutralizes fVIII after its dissociation from vWF. BO2C11 is the first human monoclonal anti-fVIII IgG antibody that has been isolated and allows the study of fVIII inactivation at the molecular level.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Recurrent arterial thrombosis linked to autoimmune antibodies enhancing von Willebrand factor binding to platelets and inducing Fc gamma RII receptor-mediated platelet activation.

A patient with a history of recurrent late fetal loss associated with multiple placental infarcts and cerebrovascular ischemia at the age of 36, followed a year later by a myocardial infarction, was referred for further investigation. Coronary angiography was normal. Antinuclear factor, lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibodies, and other thrombophilia parameters were negative, but there was moderate hyperthyroidism with positive thyroid peroxidase antibodies. Platelet numbers and von Willebrand factor (vWF) were normal. Her platelets showed spontaneous aggregation that disappeared with aspirin intake. However, aggregation still was induced by low levels of ristocetin (0.3 to 0.5 mg/mL). The low-dose ristocetin aggregation in patient platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was completely blocked by neutralizing antiglycoprotein Ib (GPIb) and anti-vWF antibodies. The monoclonal anti-Fc gamma RII receptor antibody IV.3 inhibited partly, which suggests that PRP aggregation by low-dose ristocetin was elicited by vWF-immunoglobulin (Ig) complexes. Upon addition to washed human platelets, with vWF (10 micrograms/mL), purified patient Igs dose-dependently enhanced ristocetin (0.15 mg/mL)-induced aggregation between 0 and 500 micrograms/mL, an effect that disappeared again above 1 mg/mL. Aggregation was dependent on the vWF concentration and was blocked by IV.3 or neutralizing anti-GPIb or anti-vWF antibodies. The spontaneous aggregation of normal platelets resuspended in patient plasma could be inhibited totally by IV.3 and partially by neutralizing anti-GPIb or anti-vWF antibodies. Perfusion with normal anticoagulated blood, enriched with 10% of control or patient plasma, over surfaces coated with vWF showed increased platelet adhesion and activation in the presence of patient antibodies. Treatment of the patient with the antithyroid drug thiamazol and temporary corticosteroids, aspirin, and ticlopidine did not correct the platelet hypersensitivity to ristocetin. These observations suggest that some autoantibodies to vWF may both enhance vWF binding to platelets and cause platelet activation through binding to the Fc gamma RII receptor, and thereby may be responsible for a new form of antibody-mediated thrombosis.

Adult↗

Fluorescent chemical cleavage of mismatches for efficient screening of the factor VIII gene.

The detection of mutations in large and complex genes represents a practical challenge in research and diagnostic laboratories. Available methods are either time-consuming or lack sensitivity. Mutation detection in the factor VIII gene, responsible for haemophilia A, is hampered by its large size, its many exons, and the high frequency of de novo mutations that result in different mutations in unrelated patients. For an exhaustive analysis of mutations in the factor VIII gene, we established a nonradioactive screening method based on chemical cleavage of mismatches (CCM). PCR-fragments of approximately 1 kb were generated from genomic DNA (exon 14) or after reverse transcription from mRNA isolated from blood cells. Some modifications have been made to improve the CCM strategy. First, using a fluorescent tag, the method gains safety and flexibility. Second, fluorescent detection allows an accurate sizing of digested fragments when measured on an automated DNA sequencer. Third, by labelling both 5' ends of the PCR-fragment, the detection rate is virtually 100%. Finally, in the case of an X-linked disease, samples from two patients can be mixed, which reduces the workload without losing information. In a pilot experiment, mutations were detected in 20 of 20 patients. In this series, three small insertions, two small deletions, one nonsense mutation, 13 missense mutations, and one splice mutation were found. Fifteen of these mutations are new. Thus virtually all kind of mutations are detectable by this method. Moreover, the analysis of the gene can be completed in 2 days.

DNA↗

In vivo effects of contrast media on coronary thrombolysis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of radiographic contrast media (CM) on alteplase-induced coronary thrombolysis. BACKGROUND: Contrast media inhibit fibrinolysis in vitro and interact with endothelial cells, platelets and the coagulation system. The in vivo effects of CM on thrombolysis are not known. METHODS: Occlusive coronary artery thrombosis was induced in 4 groups of 10 dogs by the copper coil technique. After 70 min of occlusion the dogs were randomized to intracoronary injection of 2 ml kg(-1) of either saline, a low-osmolar ionic CM (ioxaglate), a low-osmolar nonionic CM (iohexol) or a high-osmolar ionic CM (amidotrizoate). Thrombolysis with alteplase and co-therapy with aspirin and heparin was initiated after 90 min of occlusion. The coronary artery flow was monitored with an electromagnetic flowmeter throughout the experiment. RESULTS: Iohexol and amidotrizoate, but not ioxaglate, were associated with longer reperfusion delays (time to optimal reperfusion: 67+/-48 min and 65+/-49 min, respectively, vs. 21+/-11 min after placebo; p < 0.05) and shorter periods of coronary perfusion (optimal perfusion time: 21+/-26 min and 21+/-28 min, respectively, vs. 58+/-40 min after placebo; p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between groups with regard to activated partial thromboplastin times, circulating thrombin-antithrombin III complex concentrations and fibrinogen. CONCLUSIONS: In this animal model administration of iohexol and amidotrizoate before thrombolysis significantly delayed reperfusion. This interaction should be considered in the design of clinical trials of thrombolytic therapy that evaluate coronary artery patency and in patients receiving local infusions of fibrinolytic agents.

Animals↗

Activation of both coagulation and fibrinolysis in childhood hemolytic uremic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Thrombotic microangiopathy is the fundamental lesion in diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome. The extent of the lesion in the renal parenchyma determines the severity and outcome of the disorder, bilateral renal cortical necrosis being the worst end of the spectrum. In the early years, intravascular coagulation was considered the most important pathogenic mechanism. Yet, individual coagulation factors were normal in the vast majority of patients and therapy with anticoagulants did not alter the course. Recent studies indicate that impaired fibrinolysis might be of importance. METHODS: We studied seven variables of the coagulation pathway (PT, aPTT, fibrinogen, FVIII:c, von Willebrand factor, thrombin-antithrombin complexes, prothrombin fragments 1+2) and seven parameters of the fibrinolytic system (plasminogen, alpha2-antiplasmin, C1-esterase inhibitor, tissue-type plasminogen activator, urokinase-type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1, D-dimer) in 24 pediatric patients with diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome and in 15 children with acute renal failure not due to hemolytic uremic syndrome. Samples were collected at diagnosis and every second day thereafter for a period of ten days. Additional samples were collected from patients who underwent dialysis, that is, before and after each session from those subjected to hemodialysis and every day from those subjected to peritoneal dialysis. The obtained data were compared with data from a control group consisting of healthy children. RESULTS: Our data show four important features. (1) A significant increase in both thrombin-antithrombin complexes (P < 0.005) and prothrombin fragments 1 + 2 (P < 0.001) is observed in hemolytic uremic patients as compared to patients with acute renal failure of other causes. This finding is clearly indicative for an activation of the coagulation pathway. (2) Patients with the hemolytic uremic syndrome have significantly higher D-dimer levels, a sensitive marker of fibrin-specific fibrinolysis, as compared to patients with acute renal failure of other causes (P < 0.005). (3) Levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (active antigen as well as plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity) are not different in both patient groups. In contrast, plasma levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator and urokinase-type plasminogen activator are significantly higher in the hemolytic uremic patients than in those with acute renal failure of other causes (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively). (4) Hemodialysis leads to an increase in tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen and a decrease of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that in children with diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome, limited intravascular coagulation occurs, without evidence of impaired fibrinolysis.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Mechanism of action of beta2-glycoprotein I-dependent lupus anticoagulants.

There is accumulating evidence showing that lupus anticoagulants (LA) are more strongly associated with thrombosis than anticardiolipin antibodies. In addition, indirect evidence has been presented indicating that beta2GPI-dependent LA are more strongly associated with thrombosis than prothrombin-dependent LA. From this, one may assume that anti-beta2GPI antibodies with LA activity are more pathogenic than anti-beta2GPI antibodies without LA activity. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to understand the molecular basis on which some anti-beta2GPI antibodies behave as LA. In this presentation, the current knowledge on the interaction of beta2GPI with phospholipids and with anti-beta2GPI antibodies is reviewed and an integrated model for the anti-beta2GPI-dependent LA activity is proposed with implications for a pathogenic role of these particular antibodies.

Animals↗

Antibody-mediated thrombosis: relation to the antiphospholipid syndrome.

Various forms of antibody-mediated thrombosis are presented and the mechanisms involved in their pathogenesis are discussed. Antibody-mediated thrombosis includes heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis, autoantibodies to von Willebrand factor mimicking an antiphospholipid syndrome, thrombosis following injection of the murine monoclonal antibody OKT3, hyperacute and acute xenograft rejection, and varicella-associated antibody against protein S. In several of these entities the pathogenesis of thrombosis is closely related to development of cellular procoagulant activity through tight occupancy of Fc receptors, or through complement activation, or through cell-cell interactions. Integrating the antiphospholipid syndrome into the more general category of antibody-mediated thrombosis may provide some hints as to how we could approach the study of those intriguing patients who have the clinical features of the antiphospholipid syndrome but lack those antibodies that currently characterize it.

Adult↗

Effect of clopidogrel on naproxen-induced gastrointestinal blood loss in healthy volunteers.

The effect of clopidogrel, a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation, on naproxen-induced faecal blood loss was investigated in 30 healthy volunteers in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two parallel treatment groups study. All subjects first received naproxen 250 mg b.i.d. during 7 days, after which they were randomly allocated to additionally receive either clopidogrel 75 mg once daily (n = 15) or matching placebo (n = 15) for 11 days. Faecal blood loss was measured by the 51Cr-labelled erythrocyte method during the last four days of each of the four study periods, i.e. baseline, treatment with naproxen alone, combined treatment and wash-out. Mean daily faecal blood loss was below 0.5 ml/day during the baseline period in both treatment groups and increased during treatment with naproxen alone to (mean +/- SD) 1.14 +/- 0.58 ml/day in the naproxen + placebo group and to 1.93 +/- 1.51 ml/day in the naproxen + clopidogrel group. Addition of clopidogrel to naproxen treatment was associated with an increase of the mean daily blood loss to 6.83 +/- 9.32 ml/day, which was statistically significantly higher than 1.75 +/- 1.40 ml/day observed during treatment with naproxen + placebo. During the wash-out period, mean daily blood loss decreased to 0.98 +/- 0.51 ml/day in the naproxen + placebo group and to 1.07 +/- 0.46 ml/day in the naproxen + clopidogrel group. Based on these results, it can be concluded that clopidogrel increases naproxen-induced gastrointestinal blood loss in healthy volunteers. Caution should therefore be called for when these drugs are coadministered.

Adult↗

Beta-2-glycoprotein I dependent lupus anticoagulants form stable bivalent antibody beta-2-glycoprotein I complexes on phospholipid surfaces.

The precise mechanism by which Beta-2-glycoprotein I (beta2-GPI-) dependent lupus anticoagulants lengthen phospholipid-dependent clotting reactions is still poorly understood. In order to study this, murine monoclonal antibodies (moabs) against human beta2GPI were raised. Eight of the 21 anti-beta2GPI moabs, obtained from 2 fusions, fulfilled the criteria for lupus anticoagulant (LA) activity as tested with a variety of sensitive screening assays and confirmatory tests. Seven moabs did not influence any clotting test. The LA positive moabs were found to compete for similar or closely spaced epitopes on immobilized beta2GPI. Two moabs with potent LA activity (moabs 22 F 6 and 22 B 3) and 1 moab without LA activity (moab 16 B 3) were selected to study the interaction between antibody, beta2GPI and phospholipid. Interactions were investigated by real-time biospecific interaction analysis (BIA) based on plasmon surface resonance technology on a BIA-core instrument using a sensor chip coated with phospholipid. When 22 F 6, the moab with the most pronounced LA activity, was allowed to interact with the phospholipid surface at concentrations between 0 and 400 nmol/l, no appreciable binding could be detected. Likewise, no binding could be measured when beta2GPI at concentrations between 0 and 400 nmol/l was passed over the phospholipid coated sensor chip. Combinations of beta2GPI and 22 F 6 resulted in significant binding. Similar results were obtained with 22 B 3, another moab with LA activity. A LA negative Moab, 16 B 3, did not cause binding of antibody-beta2GPI complexes. Fab' fragments, derived from moab 22 F 6, inhibited the binding of beta2GPI-22 F 6 and beta2GPI-22 B 3 in a concentration dependent way, indicating that only bivalent beta2GPI-antibody complexes bind with high affinity to phospholipids. Fab' fragments, derived from moab 22 F 6, also inhibited the LA effect of moabs 22 F 6 and 22 B 3 in diluted plasma. In summary, these experiments indicate that the beta2GPI-dependent LA effect depends on the formation of bivalent beta2GPI-antibody complexes on phospholipid surfaces.

Antibodies, Bispecific↗

Monoclonal antibodies against beta-2-glycoprotein I: use as reference material for lupus anticoagulant tests.

The laboratory diagnosis of lupus anticoagulants (LA) remains difficult despite internationally accepted guidelines for its detection. Several interlaboratory surveys have shown poor agreement between laboratories. Further standardization of LA testing will to a large extent depend on better insights on the mechanisms by which LA affect phospholipid-dependent coagulation assays as well as on the availability of well characterized and internationally accepted reference materials and control specimens. We recently raised a series of murine monoclonal antibodies against human beta2GPI (anti-beta2GPI moabs), a phospholipid-binding protein directly involved in the interaction between certain lupus anticoagulants and phospholipids. In this study we report on the use of LA positive anti-beta2GPI moabs as easy to handle reference and control material. The relative LA responsiveness of various phospholipid-dependent clotting assays was determined on plasmas spiked with such moabs and compared well with that determined on LA positive plasma samples. Plasmas spiked with LA positive anti-beta2GPI moabs were also used as control specimens to study the interlaboratory precision of LA testing. With these control specimens, low interassay coefficients of variation were obtained. Our results indicate that LA positive anti-beta2GPI moabs have potential for the production of control specimens that could be made available to routine hemostasis laboratories to assess intra-laboratory precision of LA testing and to manufacturers to control batch-to-batch variability of their reagents.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗