Oxidized beta2-glycoprotein I induces human dendritic cell maturation and promotes a T helper type 1 response

The human plasma protein beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2-GPI) is the most common target for antiphospholipid antibodies associated with thrombotic events in chronic disorders related to endothelial cell dysfunction. Crucial information is needed to clarify why this self-abundant protein is targeted by autoimmune responses. In this study, we investigated whether oxidative modification of beta2-GPI, either spontaneous in culture wells or induced by treatment with H2O2, renders this self-protein able to activate immature monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) from healthy human donors. Oxidized beta2-GPI caused DCs to mature so that CD83 appeared and CD80, CD86, human leukocyte antigen-D region related (HLA-DR), and CD40 increased. The interaction between oxidized beta2-GPI and DCs specifically stimulated these cells to secrete interleukin 12 (IL-12), IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and IL-10. Oxidized beta2-GPI-stimulated DCs had increased allostimulatory ability and primed naive T lymphocytes, thus inducing T helper 1 (Th1) polarization. The interaction between oxidized beta2-GPI and DCs involved interleukin-1 receptor associated kinase (IRAK) phosphorylation and nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) activation. Pretreatment of beta2-GPI with the antioxidant alpha-tocopherol prevented DC maturation. These findings show that human oxidized beta2-GPI, probably by interacting with a member of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family, causes DCs to mature. Because this key beta2-GPI function requires oxidative modification, in several chronic disorders related to endothelial cell dysfunction oxidative stress might trigger the "autoimmune spiral."