Some 'antiphospholipid antibodies' bind to beta 2-glycoprotein I in the absence of phospholipid

Some antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) only bind to anionic phospholipids in the presence of a serum cofactor, beta 2-glycoprotein I (beta 2GPI). Whether these aPL can bind to beta 2GPI in the absence of phospholipid is controversial. We have purified anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) from the plasma of four patients and beta 2GPI from normal plasma by solid phase affinity methods. All four aCL bound to cardiolipin and phosphatidylserine in the presence of beta 2GPI but not in its absence. The binding of two of the antibodies to cardiolipin and phosphatidylserine at various concentrations of human beta 2GPI was compared with that obtained using 10% bovine serum. The two antibodies responded differently to increasing beta 2GPI concentrations, and binding to phosphatidylserine was relatively greater than to cardiolipin using human beta 2GPI. All four aCL bound to plastic plates coated with beta 2GPI in the absence of phospholipid, and beta 2GPI in the fluid phase had no effect on binding. Binding to beta 2GPI coated plates was increased equally when bovine serum or bovine albumin were used as the sample diluent in place of gelatine. These findings and those of others have important implications for the design of assays for antiphospholipid antibodies.