Recurrent pregnancy losses are a hallmark of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), a complicated major hypercoagulable disorder without an established mechanism that is currently diagnosed with phenomenologic surrogate tests. APS is associated with a host of thrombotic complications including recurrent pregnancy losses, stroke, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The placental anticoagulant protein, annexin A5 (AnxAS) is a potent phospholipid (PL)-binding protein that forms 2-dimensional anticoagulant crystal shields over membranes containing anionic PLs. AnxAS is highly expressed on the apical membranes of placental syncytiotrophoblasts where it is in an anatomic position to promote blood fluidity in the intervillous space. The core hypothesis of this application is that pathogenic antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies bind to specific domains on (32-glycoprotein I, the major cofactor for aPL antibodies. These results in formation of macromolecular antibody-antigen complexes on the apical surfaces of syncytiotrophoblasts that create defects in the AnxAS anticoagulant shield and thereby promote coagulation reactions and reduce blood fluidity in the placental circulation. We have provided strong evidence for this hypothesis and have begun to develop innovative treatments that target this disease mechanism and mechanistic tests that identify resistance to AnxAS anticoagulant activity. This grant will extend the above findings with the following specific aims: 1) To investigate the effects of aPL antibodies on the AnxAS anticoagulant shield that is present on the apical membranes of placental trophoblasts. 2) To translate the findings of the first specific aim into innovative treatments targeting this disease mechanism and into mechanistic assays to diagnose the disease.
These aims will be accomplished with atomic force microscopy, ellipsometry, binding studies, and coagulation enzyme studies using PL bilayers, cultured placental cells and placental villi and translational tests for AnxAS resistance. This project will be a major contribution toward elucidating a novel mechanism for pregnancy losses in a significant disease which is lacking an established pathophysiology and will open new approaches toward mechanistically-based diagnosis and treatment.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL061331-09
Application #
7800293
Study Section
Pregnancy and Neonatology Study Section (PN)
Program Officer
Kindzelski, Andrei L
Project Start
1999-08-01
Project End
2013-03-31
Budget Start
2010-04-01
Budget End
2013-03-31
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$314,327
Indirect Cost
Name
Montefiore Medical Center (Bronx, NY)
Department
Type
DUNS #
041581026
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10467
Bezati, E; Wu, X-X; Quinn, A S et al. (2015) A new trick for an ancient drug: quinine dissociates antiphospholipid immune complexes. Lupus 24:32-41
Taatjes, Douglas J; Quinn, Anthony S; Rand, Jacob H et al. (2013) Atomic force microscopy: High resolution dynamic imaging of cellular and molecular structure in health and disease. J Cell Physiol 228:1949-55
Wahezi, D M; Ilowite, N T; Wu, X X et al. (2013) Annexin A5 anticoagulant activity in children with systemic lupus erythematosus and the association with antibodies to domain I of ?2-glycoprotein I. Lupus 22:702-11
Quinn, Anthony S; Wu, Xiao-Xuan; Rand, Jacob H et al. (2012) Insights into the pathophysiology of the antiphospholipid syndrome provided by atomic force microscopy. Micron 43:851-62
Rand, Jacob H; Wu, Xiao-Xuan; Lin, Elaine Y et al. (2012) Annexin A5 binds to lipopolysaccharide and reduces its endotoxin activity. MBio 3:
Wahezi, Dawn M; Ilowite, Norman T; Rajpathak, Swapnil et al. (2012) Prevalence of annexin A5 resistance in children and adolescents with rheumatic diseases. J Rheumatol 39:382-8
Wu, Xiao-Xuan; Guller, Seth; Rand, Jacob H (2011) Hydroxychloroquine reduces binding of antiphospholipid antibodies to syncytiotrophoblasts and restores annexin A5 expression. Am J Obstet Gynecol 205:576.e7-14
Hunt, Beverley J; Wu, Xiao-Xuan; de Laat, Bas et al. (2011) Resistance to annexin A5 anticoagulant activity in women with histories for obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome. Am J Obstet Gynecol 205:485.e17-23
Bertolaccini, M L; Amengual, O; Atsumi, T et al. (2011) 'Non-criteria' aPL tests: report of a task force and preconference workshop at the 13th International Congress on Antiphospholipid Antibodies, Galveston, TX, USA, April 2010. Lupus 20:191-205
Rand, J H; Wu, X-X; Quinn, A S et al. (2010) The annexin A5-mediated pathogenic mechanism in the antiphospholipid syndrome: role in pregnancy losses and thrombosis. Lupus 19:460-9

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