Apolipoprotein H
Encyclopedia
Apolipoprotein H previously known as (β2-glycoprotein I, beta-2 glycoprotein I), is a multifunctional apolipoprotein
Apolipoprotein
Apolipoproteins are proteins that bind lipids to form lipoproteins and transport the lipids through the lymphatic and circulatory systems....

. One of its functions is to bind cardiolipin
Cardiolipin
Cardiolipin is an important component of the inner mitochondrial membrane, where it constitutes about 20% of the total lipid composition. The only other place that cardiolipin can be found is in the membranes of most bacteria. The name ‘cardiolipin’ is derived from the fact that it was first...

. When bound the structure of cardiolipin and Apo-H both undergo large changes in structure. Within the structure of Apo-H is a stretch of positively charged amino acids, (protein sequence positions 282-287) Lys-Asn-Lys-Glu-Lys-Lys, are involved in phospholipid binding (See image on right).

Apo-H has a complex involvement in agglutination, it appears to alter ADP mediated agglutenation of platlets. Normally Apo-H assumes an anti-coagulation activity in serum (by inhibiting coagulation factors), however changes in blood factors can result of a reversal of that activity.

Inhibitory activities

Apo-H appears to completely inhibit serotonin
Serotonin
Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine is a monoamine neurotransmitter. Biochemically derived from tryptophan, serotonin is primarily found in the gastrointestinal tract, platelets, and in the central nervous system of animals including humans...

 release by the platelets and prevents subsequent waves of the ADP-induced aggregation. The activity of Apo-H appears to involve the binding of agglutinating, negatively charged compounds, and inhibits agglutination by the contact activation of the intrinsic blood coagulation pathway. Apo-H causes a reduction of the prothrombinase binding sites on platelets and reduces the activation caused by collagen when thrombin is present at physiological serum concentrations of Apo-H suggesting a regulatory role of Apo-H in coagulation.

Apo-H also inhibits the generation of factor Xa in the presence of platelets. Apo-H also inhibits that activation of factor XII
Factor XII
Coagulation factor XII also known as Hageman factor is a plasma protein. It is the zymogen form of factor XIIa, an enzyme of the serine protease class. In humans, factor XII is encoded by the F12 gene.- Function :...

a.

In addition, Apo-H inhibits the activation of protein C blocking its activity on phosphatidylserine:phosphatidylcholine vesicles however once protein C is activated, Apo-H fails to inhibit activity. Since protein C is involved in factor V
Factor V
Factor V is a protein of the coagulation system, rarely referred to as proaccelerin or labile factor. In contrast to most other coagulation factors, it is not enzymatically active but functions as a cofactor...

a degradation Apo-H indirectly inhibits the degradation of factor Va. This inhibitory activity was diminished by adding phospholipids suggesting the Apo-H inhibition of protein C is phospholipid competitive. This indicates that under certain conditions Apo-H takes on a procoagulation properties.

Pathology

Anti-cardiolipin antibodies are found in both infectious (syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...

) and autoimmune disease (sclerosis
Sclerosis (medicine)
In medicine, sclerosis refers to the stiffening of a structure, usually caused by a replacement of the normal organ-specific tissue with connective tissue.Types include:...

, lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus , often abbreviated to SLE or lupus, is a systemic autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body. As occurs in other autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks the body's cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage...

). The activity of anti-cardiolipin antibodies
Anti-cardiolipin antibodies
Anti-cardiolipin antibodies are antibodies often directed against cardiolipin and found in several diseases including syphilis, antiphospholipid syndrome, livedoid vasculitis, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, Behçet's syndrome, idiopathic spontaneous abortion, and systemic lupus erythematosus. They...

 in autoimmune antiphospholipid syndrome
Antiphospholipid syndrome
Antiphospholipid syndrome or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome , often also Hughes syndrome, is an autoimmune, hypercoagulable state caused by antibodies against cell-membrane phospholipids that provokes blood clots in both arteries and veins as well as pregnancy-related complications such as...

 requires apolipoprotein H. The subset of antibodies that bind Apo-H and alter its activity are condsidered different from
antibodies that bind thrombin, serum phospholipids and are called anti-apolipoprotein antibodies
Anti-apolipoprotein antibodies
In autoimmune disease, anti-apolipoprotein H antibodies, also called anti-β2 glycoprotein I antibodies, comprise a subset of anti-cardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant. These antibodies are involved in sclerosis and are strongly associated with thrombotic forms of lupus....

. In autoimmune disease, anti-apolipoprotein antibodies
Anti-apolipoprotein antibodies
In autoimmune disease, anti-apolipoprotein H antibodies, also called anti-β2 glycoprotein I antibodies, comprise a subset of anti-cardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant. These antibodies are involved in sclerosis and are strongly associated with thrombotic forms of lupus....

 (Anti β2 glycoprotein I antibodies) strongly associate with thrombotic forms of lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus , often abbreviated to SLE or lupus, is a systemic autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body. As occurs in other autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks the body's cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage...

 and sclerosis
Sclerosis (medicine)
In medicine, sclerosis refers to the stiffening of a structure, usually caused by a replacement of the normal organ-specific tissue with connective tissue.Types include:...

.

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