The association between IgG and IgM antibodies against cardiolipin, beta 2-glycoprotein I and Domain I of beta 2-glycoprotein I with disease profile in patients with multiple sclerosis

• Published in: Molecular immunology 2016-07, Vol.75, p.161-167
• Main Authors: Filippidoua, Natalia, Krashiasa, George, Pericleousb, Charis, Rahmanb, Anisur, Ioannoub, Yiannis, Gilesb, Ian, Demetrioua, Christiana, Anatolitoua, Afroditi, Christodouloua, Christina, Pantzarisa, Marios, Lambrianidesa, Anastasia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0161-5890
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2016.05.022

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) occur in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with a number of studies reporting elevated levels; their exact prevalence and pathogenic role remain unclear. Epidemiological studies associate MS with an increased risk of deep venous thromboembolism and stroke; overlapping clinical features with APS. Antibodies against the first domain - Domain I (DI) - of beta 2glycoprotein I ( beta 2GPI), show the most clinical significance and evidence for pathogenicity in the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), but have not yet been investigated in MS. Serum from a well-defined cohort of 127 MS patients and 92 healthy controls were tested for IgM and IgG antibodies against cardiolipin (CL), beta 2GPI and DI. Higher frequency of IgM and IgG anti-CL were found in MS patients (18.1% and 21.3%), compared to controls (1.1% in both cases, p < 0.0001). We report that anti-DI antibodies were associated with MS patients, with 6.3% and 7.1% positive for IgM and IgG, respectively, compared to controls, 1.1% (p < 0.05). IgM anti-CL antibodies were elevated in secondary progressive MS and primary progressive MS compared to relapse-remitting MS, (p < 0.005). This study enrolled the largest number of patients with definite MS for studying the association with aPL. Although we confirmed IgM and IgG anti-CL antibodies occur in patients with MS, this is the first study that identified anti-DI antibodies in MS patients. This new finding may prove valuable and future studies are required to evaluate its role as a potential risk factor of thromboembolic phenomena in MS.