Genetic risk factors in thrombotic primary antiphospholipid syndrome: A systematic review with bioinformatic analyses

An immunogenomic exome landscape of triple positive primary antiphospholipid patients

Primary antiphospholipid syndrome is characterized by thrombosis and autoantibodies directed against phospholipids or associated proteins. The genetic etiology of PAPS remains unknown. We enrolled 21 patients with thromboembolic events associated to lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin and anti β2 glycoprotein1 autoantibodies. We performed whole exome sequencing and a systematic variant-based analysis in genes associated with thrombosis, in candidate genes previously associated with APS or inborn errors of immunity. Data were compared to public databases and to a control cohort of 873 non-autoimmune patients. Variants were identified following a state-of-the-art pipeline. Enrichment analysis was performed by comparing with the control cohort. We found an absence of significant HLA bias and genetic heterogeneity in these patients, including when testing combinations of rare variants in genes encoding for proteins involved in thrombosis and of variants in genes linked with inborn errors of immunity. These results provide evidence of genetic heterogeneity in PAPS, even in a homogenous series of triple positive patients. At the individual scale, a combination of variants may participate to the breakdown of B cell tolerance and to the vessel damage.

Vitamin D Status in Patients with Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome (PAPS): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder, characterised by consistently high levels of antiphospholipid antibodies, thrombosis, and/or pregnancy morbidity. Due to various suspected causes, deficient or insufficient levels of vitamin D in the serum have been reported in patients with PAPS; however, the reports have been sporadic and inconclusive. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively evaluate the serum vitamin D levels in patients with PAPS compared to controls. A protocol was registered in PROSPERO (Registration No. CRD42019132128) and a systematic literature search was conducted through Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases without restricting language and year. Pooled prevalence, mean difference (MD), and odds ratio (OR) along with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined by using a random effects model. Study quality was assessed by the Joana Brigg's Institute (JBI) protocol and publication bias was evaluated by a trim and fill funnel plot, Begg's, and Egger's tests. The pooled prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was found to be 32.2% [95% CI: 16.3-48.2] and 61.5% [95% CI: 40.2-82.8], respectively. Serum levels of vitamin D were considerably lower in the PAPS patients compared to controls (MD: -5.75, 95% CI: -9.73 to -1.77; p = 0.005). Multiple sensitivity analyses showed that the results remained statistically significant, demonstrating the robustness of this meta-analysis. No significant publication bias was detected in determining the MD of serum vitamin D levels in PAPS and controls. In conclusion, PAPS patients had greater rates of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency, higher frequency of thrombosis, and lower serum vitamin D levels than healthy individuals.

High-throughput sequencing technology facilitates the discovery of novel biomarkers for antiphospholipid syndrome

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterized by arterial and venous thrombosis and/or morbid pregnancy, accompanied by persistent antiphospholipid antibody (aPL) positivity. However, due to the complex pathogenesis of APS and the large individual differences in the expression of aPL profiles of patients, the problem of APS diagnosis, prognosis judgment, and risk assessment may not be solved only from the antibody level. It is necessary to use new technologies and multiple dimensions to explore novel APS biomarkers. The application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology in diseases with a high incidence of somatic mutations, such as genetic diseases and tumors, has been very mature. Thus, we try to know the research and application progress of APS by NGS technology from genome, transcriptome, epigenome and other aspects. This review will describe the related research of NGS technology in APS and provide more reference for the deep understanding of APS-related screening markers and disease pathogenesis.

Application of rivaroxaban in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and end-stage kidney disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Nowadays, the number of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) complicated by end-stage renal disease (ESKD) is increasing. There are significant challenges in anticoagulation with prescription drugs because of the high risk of bleeding and embolism among these patients. However, no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of warfarin in combination with any non-vitamin K oral anticoagulant (NOACs) have been performed in patients with baseline creatinine clearance (CrCl) <25 ml/min, which makes it difficult to justify the use of anticoagulants in such patients. Then, we aimed to collect and summarize all evidence to enable the anticoagulation of rivaroxaban, which is less cleared by the kidneys, in patients with severe renal insufficiency and to complement and improve the evidence on the use of rivaroxaban for anticoagulation.

Methods

The present systematic review and meta-analysis searched the databases of PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM, and Google Scholar for relevant studies from inception to 1 June 2022, with the restriction of English and Chinese. Eligible cohort studies and RCTs that reported efficacy outcomes [composite of stroke and systemic embolism (SSE), ischemic stroke (ICS), and systemic embolization] or safety outcomes [major bleeding, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), and gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB)] of rivaroxaban in NVAF patients with ESKD were enrolled. Two authors completed the data extraction and quality assessment work, respectively. The Cochrane Collaboration tool for assessing the risk of bias was used for RCTs, and the NEW-Castle Ottawa scale was used for study quality assessment for cohort studies. Dichotomous variables were calculated as risk factors with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and meta-analysis was performed to probe the effect of research design, rivaroxaban dose, and controlled drug factors on outcomes.

Results

In total, three studies were included for meta-analysis, involving 6,071 NVAF patients with ESKD, and two studies were included for qualitative analysis. All included studies were at low risk of bias. A meta-analysis demonstrated that mix-dose rivaroxaban caused no statistical discrepancy in the occurrence of thrombotic and bleeding events when compared to the control group (embolism, LogOR: -0.64, 95% CI: -1.05 to -0.23, P:0.25; bleeding, LogOR: -0.33, 95% CI: -0.63 to -0.03, P:0.15), and low-dose rivaroxaban produced similar results (embolism, LogOR: -1.04, 95% CI: -2.15 to 0.07, P:0.61; bleeding, LogOR: -0.81, 95% CI: -1.19 to -0.44, P:0.93).

Conclusion

In this study, low-dose rivaroxaban (10 mg, once a day) may benefit more than warfarin in patients with NVAF and ESKD.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#recordDetails, identifier CRD42022330973.

Evaluation of a gene signature related to thrombotic manifestations in antiphospholipid syndrome

Thrombotic primary antiphospholipid syndrome (t-PAPS) is an acquired condition characterized by heterogeneous thrombotic manifestations, which is intriguing since venous and arterial thrombosis appear to have distinct pathogenesis. Gene expression analysis may constitute a new approach to evaluate potential similarities or differences between the clinical manifestations of t-PAPS. Recently, dysregulation of the ANXA3, TNFAIP6, TXK, BACH2, and SERPINB2 genes has been associated with both arterial and venous thrombosis in the general population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine whether ANXA3, TNFAIP6, TXK, BACH2, and SERPINB2 expression was associated with t-PAPS. Gene expression was quantified by qPCR of total leukocyte mRNA. In this case-control study, 102 t-PAPS patients, 17 asymptomatic antiphospholipid (aPL) carriers and 100 controls were evaluated. Increased expression of ANXA3 (P = 0.008) and TNFAIP6 (P = 0.001) and decreased expression of the TXK gene (P = 0.0001) were associated with an increased risk of t-PAPS compared to the control. ANXA3 upregulation was more evident in cases of arterial thrombosis and multiple thrombotic events. There was no difference in the expression of these genes between triple and non-triple aPL positivity. ANXA3, TNFAIP6, TXK, BACH2, and SERPINB2 expression levels were also similar between aPL carriers and controls (P = 0.77; P = 0.48; P = 0.08; P = 0.73, and P = 0.13, respectively). In conclusion, our results showed that genes related to hemostasis (ANXA3) and immunity (TNFAIP6, TXK) are dysregulated in t-PAPS compared to controls. Gene dysregulation was not detected in aPL carriers and was not related to the aPL profile, suggesting that this gene signature is related to thrombotic manifestations rather than to aPL burden. Our results suggest that innate immunity and hemostasis pathways are associated with t-PAPS at a molecular level and may play a role in disease severity.

Genetic variation in toll-like receptor 4 gene with primary antiphospholipid syndrome susceptibility: a cohort of Egyptian patients

Background

As toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) plays important roles in cellular immunity and TLR4 polymorphisms have been shown to be associated with susceptibility to a range of diseases, the present study aimed to investigate the association between TLR4 gene polymorphisms and the incidence of primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS).

Methods

Two TLR4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs4986790 and rs4986791) were assessed in 110 subjects of Egyptian ethnicity, including 65 female patients with PAPS and 45 matched healthy controls, using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results were verified using automated sequencing.

Results

The homozygous wild-type (AA, aspartic acid) rs4986790 variant and (CC, threonine) rs4986791 variant were the predominant genotypes in the control and PAPS groups.

Conclusion

The results of this preliminary study of TLR4 gene variants among patients with PAPS in an Egyptian population found no association between the rs4986790 and rs4986791 variants and susceptibility to PAPS.

Genomic Analysis of Thrombophilia Variants in the General Population for the Creation of an Effective Preoperative Screening Tool

BACKGROUND

 The loss of a free flap in reconstructive microsurgery is a devastating complication in both the intraoperative and postoperative setting. Previous research has identified a variety of genetic polymorphisms that induce a hypercoagulable state and predispose patients to clot formation and subsequent free flap loss. We aim to review the risks of performing microsurgery on patients who are genetically predisposed to hypercoagulability, as well as identify options, for preoperative screening of inherited thrombophilia.

METHODS

 A thorough literature review was conducted with an online database. A total of 30 studies were reviewed to identify genetic polymorphisms that cause inherited thrombophilia. Through manual review of the literature, a table was created that included thrombotic risk factors and their associated genetic polymorphisms. If the information was available, prevalence for each thrombotic risk was also reported.

RESULTS

 Overall, 18 thrombotic risk factors that contribute to hereditary thrombophilia were identified and linked with specific genes and/or genetic polymorphisms. In studies that did not look at particular ethnic groups, 13 unique thrombotic risk factors were identified. In studies that examined specific ethnic groups exclusively, 12 thrombotic risk factors were identified and related to their respective gene or group of genes. Five of the 18 thrombotic risk factors identified were associated with increased risks of both venous and arterial thrombosis. The remainder of the thrombotic risk factors was associated with increased risk of venous thrombosis exclusively.

CONCLUSION

 The use of genetic screening tests for hereditary thrombophilia in the preoperative setting can serve as an effective preventative measure against postoperative thrombosis. Further exploration of thrombotic risk factors and their related genetic polymorphisms are important steps in reducing postoperative free flap loss.

Dietary Patterns during Pregnancy and Gestational Weight Gain: A Systematic Review

The present systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42020148630) hypothesizes the association of excessive weight gain during pregnancy with dietary patterns composed of ultraprocessed foods. Thus, the objective was to investigate the association between dietary patterns after analysis and weight gain during pregnancy. The search for articles was performed in nine databases. Two reviewers selected the articles in the databases and extracted from them the data used in the review. Two scales were used to evaluate the quality of the selected studies: New Castle-Ottawa Quality Assessment for cohort-based studies and Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS) for cross-sectional-based studies. In total, 11 studies were identified with sample size variation (n = 173-5,733). Women presenting more adherence to healthy and traditional patterns (fruits, vegetables, salads, nuts, and dairy) recorded less excessive gestational weight gain (GWG). Higher intake of mixed patterns and western patterns rich in ultraprocessed foods were associated with a higher prevalence of excessive GWG (24.48-55.20%). Gestational dietary patterns a posteriori-derived that have presented ultraprocessed components rich in fat and sugars presented association with high GWG; healthy and traditional dietary patterns were related to better mother-child health conditions, such as adequate GWG.

Successful Treatment of Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome Using Rituximab: Case Report and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Kidney involvement is a frequent complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and kidney biopsy is essential in differentiating lupus nephritis (LN) from thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) secondary to antiphospholipid autoantibodies (aPL). Association between antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and acquired hemophilia due to inhibitors was very rarely described in SLE patients.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present the case of a 61-year-old male diagnosed with SLE who acquired deficiency of clotting factor VIII due to circulating inhibitors, admitted for acute kidney injury (AKI), microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and diplopia. Kidney biopsy showed TMA due to APS, but no signs of LN. Head computed tomography identified low dense areas in the white matter, suggesting small blood vessels' involvement. A diagnosis of probable catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) was established and treatment with low molecular weight heparin, intravenous methylprednisolone, plasmapheresis, and rituximab was initiated, followed by resolution of AKI, diplopia, and TMA with complete depletion of CD19+B-lymphocytes (CD19+B-Ly) after one month. We further review the current knowledge regarding pathogenesis and management of CAPS in SLE patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Targeted therapy was possible after kidney biopsy, improving renal and general prognosis. CD19+B-Ly repopulation preceded biological relapse, so monitoring of CD19+B-Ly may serve as a tool to predict relapses and guide rituximab therapy.

Benefits and Harms of Low-Dose Rivaroxaban in Asian Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Real-World Studies

Background: Low-dose prescription of rivaroxaban was common among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in Asia. However, the benefits and harms of rivaroxaban at a low dosage in Asian patients with AF remains unclear. Accordingly, we aimed to collect and summarize all available evidence to fill this important knowledge gap. Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we systematically searched databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library for relevant studies from inception until February 23, 2021. Eligible retrospective nationwide or health insurance database studies or prospective registration studies that reported efficacy (stroke/systemic embolism), safety (major bleeding, intracranial hemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleeding), or other outcomes (myocardial infarction, death) of low-dose rivaroxaban in comparison with warfarin in AF patients were enrolled. Data extraction and study quality assessment were conducted by two authors independently. Low dosing of rivaroxaban (15/10 mg) was defined as the received dose lower than the recommended dose (20 mg) approved in most districts. Hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) was pooled using a random-effect model. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to different dose regimens. Sensitivity analyses were conducted by sequential elimination of each study from the pool. Since potential effect modifiers (patient demographics, differences of each study, and others) may lead to bias in primacy outcomes, we performed a meta-regression analysis to explore the influence of these factors on the primary efficacy and safety outcomes. Results: Totally, 12 studies involving 292,815 Asian patients with AF were included. All studies were detected as low to moderate risk bias. Low-dose rivaroxaban treatment in Asian AF patients was associated with a reduced risk of stroke/systemic embolism (HR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.70-0.84, I ² : 57.8%), major bleeding (HR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.62-0.84, I ² : 81.5%), and all-cause death (HR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.58-0.73, I ² : 81.7%) when compared with warfarin. Furthermore, consistent results were observed among different dose regimens (10/15/20 mg) in all the clinical outcomes (P _interaction > 0.05 for each outcome). Meta-regression analysis failed to detect any potential confounding to impact the primacy outcomes. Conclusion: Insights from the present meta-analysis, we found that low-dose rivaroxaban, even at a dosage of 10 mg daily, was associated with a reduced risk of stroke/SE and bleeding than warfarin in Asian AF patients. However, owing to considerable heterogeneity among included studies, further prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.

16th International congress on antiphospholipid antibodies task force report on clinical manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome

The objectives of the 16th International Congress on Antiphospholipid Antibodies (aPL) Task Force on Clinical Manifestations of Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) were to critically analyze: a) the definition of "APS"; b) the current knowledge on non-traditional manifestations associated with aPL; and c) the risk stratification strategies in aPL-positive patients. The quality of evidence was assessed by the GRADE system. The task force concluded that: a) APS does not have a uniform definition given the heterogeneity of the clinical presentations and different aPL profiles; b) current literature supports the role for aPL testing in cases of thrombocytopenia and recurrent cardiac events but are limited by vast heterogeneity, providing an overall low-to-very low level of evidence; and c) risk stratification strategies in aPL-positive patients, such as aPL-Score and Global APS Score, can be useful in clinical practice. International multicenter studies are still highly needed to improve the quality of available evidence and consequently the strength of future recommendations.

Systematic review of observational studies reporting antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with solid tumors

This review summarizes the evidence on antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies and related thromboembolic events in patients with solid tumors. Data sources included Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed ePubs, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials through August 2019 without restrictions. Observational studies that evaluated patients with solid tumors for the presence of aPL antibodies were included. Data were extracted and quality was assessed by one reviewer and cross-checked by another. Thirty-three studies were identified. Gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) cancers were the most frequently reported. Compared with healthy patients, patients with GI cancer were more likely to develop anticardiolipin antibodies (risk ratio [RR], 5.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.6-9.95), as were those with GU (RR, 7.3; 95% CI, 3.3-16.2) and lung cancer (RR, 5.2; 95% CI, 1.3-20.6). The increased risk for anti-β2-glycoprotein I or lupus anticoagulant was not statistically significant. Patients with lung cancer who had positive aPL antibodies had higher risk of developing thromboembolic events than those who had negative antibodies (RR, 3.8%; 95% CI, 1.2-12.2), while the increased risk in patients with GU cancer was not statistically significant. Deaths due to thromboembolic events were more common among patients with lung cancer who had elevated aPL antibodies. A limitation of this review is that the results are contingent on the reported information. We found an increased risk of developing aPL antibodies in patients with GI, GU, and lung cancers resulting in thromboembolic events and death. Further studies are needed to better understand the pathogenesis and development of aPL antibodies in cancer.

Thromboembolic Adverse Drug Reactions in Janus Kinase (JAK) Inhibitors: Does the Inhibitor Specificity Play a Role?

Recent advances in immunology enabled the characterization of several signal transmitting pathways responsible for proper cytokine and chemokine signaling. Among them, Janus kinases (JAKs) are essential components of receptor activation systems. The discovery of JAK kinases enabled the synthesis of JAK kinase inhibitors (JAKi or Jakinibs), which have proven to be efficacious in the treatment of hematologic malignancies and several rheumatological disorders and continue to be investigated in many clinical indications. Blocking multiple cytokines belonging to several cytokine families with a single small molecule may, however, create a potential risk for the patients. Recently, a higher risk of thromboembolic complications, namely, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, has been recognized as the main concern during treatment with Jakinibs. At present, it is not entirely clear whether this increased risk is related to direct cytokine blockade, the presence of concomitant diseases in treated patients or other unknown circumstances that work together to increase the risk of this side effect. In this review, we discuss data on the risk of thromboembolic side effects, with special emphasis on the mechanism that may be responsible for this increased risk. Many indirect data indicate that higher thromboembolic risk may be related to the specificity of JAK inhibitor action, such that preferentially blocking one signaling pathway upsets the balance between pro and anti-thrombotic activities.

Thrombotic risk in antiphospholipidic syndrome: From hypothesis to current evidence (Review)

Thirty-five years after it was first described, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is unanimously recognized as a systemic autoimmune disease, a major acquired thrombophilia, which can affect any arterial or venous vascular territory, explaining the great diversity of clinical manifestations. The current classification criteria updated in the International Consensus Statement for Definite Antiphospholipid Syndrome from Sydney cannot explain alone the unpredictable evolution with thrombotic events of the patients diagnosed with APS. Although the link to genetics and epigenetics has not been clearly defined as in other autoimmune diseases, it is clear that a proper stratification of thrombotic risk in the era of personalized medicine must include classic biological markers (antiphospholipid antibodies, aPL), along with the already recognized phenotypes, non-conventional serological markers, and additional genetic risk factors for thrombosis. Moreover, with advancing age, a patient with APS develops other thrombotic risk factors which include: hypertension and dyslipidemia among others. According to the classification criteria, a patient is considered to have a low, moderate or high thrombotic risk. In clinical practice, patients with the same risk score may have completely different evolutions in terms of the recurrence of thrombosis. Concerning this approach, it appears that new non-conventional serological markers, phenotype-assessment and genetic determinants have an increasing importance and should be reconsidered in a proper thrombotic risk evaluation in patients with APS, compared to the initial concept of APS as first defined.

Genetic Factors in Antiphospholipid Syndrome: Preliminary Experience with Whole Exome Sequencing

As in many autoimmune diseases, the pathogenesis of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is the result of a complex interplay between predisposing genes and triggering environmental factors, leading to a loss of self-tolerance and immune-mediated tissue damage. While the first genetic studies in APS focused primarily on the human leukocytes antigen system (HLA) region, more recent data highlighted the role of other genes in APS susceptibility, including those involved in the immune response and in the hemostatic process. In order to join this intriguing debate, we analyzed the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) derived from the whole exome sequencing (WES) of two siblings affected by APS and compared our findings with the available literature. We identified genes encoding proteins involved in the hemostatic process, the immune response, and the phospholipid metabolism (PLA2G6, HSPG2, BCL3, ZFAT, ATP2B2, CRTC3, and ADCY3) of potential interest when debating the pathogenesis of the syndrome. The study of the selected SNPs in a larger cohort of APS patients and the integration of WES results with the network-based approaches will help decipher the genetic risk factors involved in the diverse clinical features of APS.

In silico identification of new inhibitors for βeta-2-glycoprotein I as a major antigen in antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

Beta 2 glycoprotein I (β2GPI) is a major antigen for autoantibodies present in antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). β2GPI is a single polypeptide with five repeated domains and different conformations. The activated J-shaped conformation of β2GPI binds to negatively charged phospholipids in the membrane via the fifth domain and causes blood clotting reactions. We applied a drug repurposing strategy using virtual screening and molecular dynamics to find the best FDA drugs against the fifth domain of β2GPI. In the first phase, FDA drugs that had the most favorable ΔG with the fifth domain of β2GPI were selected by virtual screening. Among these drugs that had the most favorable ΔG, Vorapaxar and Antrafenine were selected for molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies. MD simulation was performed to evaluate the stability of Vorapaxar and Antrafenine complexes and the effect of the two drugs on protein conformation. Also, MD simulation was done to investigate the effect of Antrafenine and Vorapaxar on the binding of β2GPI to the platelet model membrane. According to the results, Vorapaxar and Antrafenine were bound to the protein with the favorable binding energy (Vorapaxar and Antrafenine binding energies are - 49.641 and - 38.803 kcal/mol, respectively). In this study, it was shown that unlike protein alone and protein in the Antrafenine complex, the protein in the Vorapaxar complex was completely separated from the model membrane after 350 ns. Moreover, Vorapaxar led to more changes in the activated J-shape of β2GPI. Thus, Vorapaxar can be a suitable candidate for further investigations on the treatment of APS.

Hyperferritinaemia: An Iron Sword of Autoimmunity

BACKGROUND

Ferritin is a molecule that plays many roles being the storage for iron, signalling molecule, and modulator of the immune response.

METHODS

Different electronic databases were searched in a non-systematic way to find out the literature of interest.

RESULTS

The level of ferritin rises in many inflammatory conditions including autoimmune disorders. However, in four inflammatory diseases (i.e., adult-onset Still's diseases, macrophage activation syndrome, catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome, and sepsis), high levels of ferritin are observed suggesting it as a remarkable biomarker and pathological involvement in these diseases. Acting as an acute phase reactant, ferritin is also involved in the cytokine-associated modulator of the immune response as well as a regulator of cytokine synthesis and release which are responsible for the inflammatory storm.

CONCLUSION

This review article presents updated information on the role of ferritin in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases with an emphasis on hyperferritinaemic syndrome.

The antiphospholipid syndrome - often overlooked cause of vascular occlusions?

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) was fully recognized as a clinical entity in the early 1980s. Still, more than 30 years later, the epidemiology of APS is not well described, and furthermore, APS remains a challenge in terms of both diagnostic issues and clinical praxis involving a wide range of specialties. To date, there are no diagnostic criteria for APS. The present classification criteria rely on a combination of clinical manifestations and persistently positive tests for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Clinical symptoms comprise vascular thrombosis, which can affect any vascular bed, including venous, microvascular and arterial vessels, and a set of pregnancy morbidities including early and late miscarriages, foetal death and preeclampsia. APS is more frequent among patients with other autoimmune diseases, and it is especially common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Importantly, APS symptoms can present in almost any medical specialty, but general knowledge and most previous clinical studies have essentially been confined to haematology, rheumatology and obstetrics/gynaecology. However, recent data demonstrate a relatively high prevalence of aPL also in patients from the general population who suffer from vascular occlusions or pregnancy complications. It is important that these patients are recognized by the general health care since APS is a treatable condition. This review aims to summarize the present knowledge on the history, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and treatment of APS in order to urge a wide range of clinicians to consider comprehensive assessment of all patients where the diagnosis APS may be conceivable.

MicroRNA (miRNA): A New Dimension in the Pathogenesis of Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are single-stranded, endogenous RNA molecules that play a significant role in the regulation of gene expression as well as cell development, differentiation, and function. Recent data suggest that these small molecules are responsible for the regulation of immune responses. Therefore, they may act as potent modulators of the immune system and play an important role in the development of several autoimmune diseases. Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune systemic disease characterized by venous and/or arterial thromboses and/or recurrent fetal losses in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs). Several lines of evidence suggest that like other autoimmune disorders, miRNAs are deeply involved in the pathogenesis of APS, interacting with the function of innate and adaptive immune responses. In this review, we characterize miRNAs in the light of having a functional role in the immune system and autoimmune responses focusing on APS. In addition, we also discuss miRNAs as potential biomarkers and target molecules in treating APS.

Antiphospholipid antibodies and antiphospholipid syndrome in cancer: Uninvited guests in troubled times

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) are autoantibodies with laboratory significance in developing thrombosis and pregnancy morbidity in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). High prevalence of aPLs namely - anticardiolipin, anti-β2-glycoprotein I, lupus anticoagulant, antiphosphatidylcholine, antiphosphatidylserine, antiphosphatidylinositol, antiphosphatidylethanolamine and antiprothrombin antibodies have been observed in patients with different types of haematological malignancies and solid tumours. Although cancer patients have high risk of developing thrombosis, the risk becomes even higher in aPLs carriers. Although the relationship between aPLs and cancer has to be further investigated, however, the presence of aPLs in neoplastic patients can possibly increase the risk of developing thrombosis. As the pathogenic role of aPLs in cancer is still a matter of debate, more researches should be conducted on the association between the aPLs and malignancies towards the potential impact on understanding the pathogenicity and treatment when cancer and APS coexists.

Antiphospholipid syndrome's genetic and epigenetic aspects

Studies on last genetic and epigenetic predisposition to APS are summarized. It is well known that genetic predisposition is in HLA system (DR4 and DRw53) and that lupus anticoagulant (LA) and anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) are both associated with the same HLA antigens. Other genes, outside the MHC, give their contribution to the development of this autoimmune syndrome, such as IRF5, STAT4 and those related to inherited thrombophilia - factor V Leiden and G20210A prothrombin polymorphisms. Finally, post-transcriptional modifications of anti-beta2GPI antibodies could be implicated too. The most important discovery of last years is that altered microRNAs' expression is linked to autoimmunity, thrombosis, early atherosclerosis, and oxidative stress in APS.

New Biomarkers for Atherothrombosis in Antiphospholipid Syndrome: Genomics and Epigenetics Approaches

Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder, characterized by pregnancy morbidity and/or a hyper coagulable state involving the venous or the arterial vasculature and associated with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), including anti-cardiolipin antibodies (aCL), anti-beta2-glycoprotein I (anti-ß2GPI), and Lupus anticoagulant (LA). In recent years there have been many advances in the understanding of the molecular basis of vascular involvement in APS. APS is of multifactorial origin and develops in genetically predisposed individuals. The susceptibility is determined by major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Different HLA-DR and HLA-DQ alleles have been reported in association with APS. Moreover, MHC II alleles may determine the autoantibody profile and, as such, the clinical phenotype of this disease. Besides, polymorphisms in genes related to the vascular system are considered relevant factors predisposing to clinical manifestations. Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) induce genomic and epigenetic alterations that support a pro- thrombotic state. Thus, a specific gene profile has been identified in monocytes from APS patients -related to aPL titres in vivo and promoted in vitro by aPL- explaining their cardiovascular involvement. Regarding epigenetic approaches, we previously recognized two miRNAs (miR-19b/miR-20a) as potential modulators of tissue factor, the main receptor involved in thrombosis development in APS. aPLs can further promote changes in the expression of miRNA biogenesis proteins in leukocytes of APS patients, which are translated into an altered miRNA profile and, consequently, in the altered expression of their protein targets related to thrombosis and atherosclerosis. MicroRNAs are further released into the circulation, acting as intercellular communicators. Accordingly, a specific signature of circulating miRNAs has been recently identified in APS patients as potential biomarkers of clinical features. Genomics and epigenetic biomarkers might also serve as indices for disease progression, clinical pharmacology, or safety, so that they might be used to individually predict disease outcome and guide therapeutic decisions. In that way, in the setting of a clinical trial, novel and specific microRNA–mRNA regulatory networks in APS, modified by effect of Ubiquinol treatment, have been identified. In this review, current and previous studies analyzing genomic/epigenetic changes related to the clinical profile of APS patients, and their modulation by effect of specific therapies, are discussed.

Antiphospholipid syndrome – an update

Abstract. Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoantibody-mediated acquired thrombophilia. It is characterized by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APL) that are directed against phospholipid-binding plasma proteins, such as beta-2-glycoprotein I (b2GPI). Its main manifestations are recurrent vascular thromboses (so-called “thrombotic APS”) and pregnancy complications (“obstetric APS”). According to the current consensus criteria, a persistently positive functional lupus anticoagulant (LA) assay and/or the presence of anti-b2GPI and/or anti-cardiolipin antibodies, together with clinical symptoms, is mandatory for the diagnosis of APS. Other clinical features, such as thrombocytopenia, Coombs-positive haemolytic anaemia, heart valve disease, renal microangiopathy and neurologic disorders are also common in APL-positive patients. APS can be associated with other autoimmune disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus. In rare cases, catastrophic APS (CAPS) occurs, with the development of excessive thrombosis at multiple sites, usually affecting small vessels and leading to multi-organ dysfunction and organ failure. Treatment usually comprises antithrombotic therapy using antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents. However, there is no consensus concerning the intensity or duration of therapy. Despite apparently adequate anticoagulation, the risk of recurrent thrombosis remains high. For patients with CAPS, a combined therapeutic approach that includes anticoagulation, glucocorticoids, plasma exchange and/or intravenous immunoglobulin seems to be the best treatment option.

Keywords: Antiphospholipid syndrome, lupus anticoagulants, anti-cardiolipin, anti-beta-2-glycoprotein I, vascular thrombosis, pregnancy complication