Anti-β2GPI antibodies enhance atherosclerosis in ApoE-deficient mice

Abstract

Accelerated atherosclerosis often occurs in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), and auto-antibodies to β2 glycoprotein I (anti-β2GPI) are confirmed as pathogenic antibodies to APS. Our previous studies have demonstrated that the conversion of mouse peritoneal macrophages into foam cells could be enhanced by co-existence of β2GPI and anti-β2GPI IgG, but this phenomenon has not been explored in vivo. Here, we present a mouse model to observe the effect of anti-β2GPI IgG in the development of atherosclerosis. Male ApoE-deficient mice were intraperitoneally injected with anti-β2GPI IgG (100 μg/mouse) and homologous control IgG (100 μg/mouse) every week for 16 weeks. Plasma lipid composition, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological staining were used to evaluate vascular inflammation, lumen stenosis and plaque stability. The results showed that the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in plasma were not changed in all mice fed with high-fat diet, but the level of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol was lower and the atherosclerosis index was significantly increased in HD + anti-β2GPI group than in other high-fat diet groups. In addition, compared with NR IgG-treated mice, anti-β2GPI IgG-treated mice showed more lipid deposition in the carotid artery, markedly narrowed arteriolar lumen as well as higher MMP-9 expression, more macrophages and fewer collagen fibers in the aortic arch root. Furthermore, the aortic mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and MCP-1 were significantly increased in anti-β2GPI IgG-treated mice. Together, these data indicate that anti-β2GPI IgG increases vascular inflammation, aggravates atherosclerosis and promotes the formation of vulnerable plaque in ApoE-deficient mice.