ADAMTS-13 conformation influences autoimmune recognition in immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Patients with immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) have anti-ADAMTS-13 immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies that enhance ADAMTS-13 clearance and/or inhibit its function. ADAMTS-13 normally circulates in a closed conformation, which is manifested by the interaction of the CUB domains with the central spacer domain. Disruption of the spacer-CUB interaction opens ADAMTS-13, which augments its proteolytic function but may also expose cryptic autoimmune epitopes that promote further autoantibody recognition.

To explore differences in autoantibody binding to ADAMTS-13 in its closed or open conformations in patients with iTTP and to correlate these differences with disease-related parameters.

We developed a novel assay to measure autoantibodies binding to closed and open ADAMTS-13. Autoantibody titer and IgG subclass binding to open or closed ADAMTS-13 were measured in 70 iTTP first presentation samples and correlated with clinical data, remission, and relapse.

In 70 patients with iTTP, the mean autoantibody titer against open ADAMTS-13 was, on average, approximately 2-fold greater than that against closed ADAMTS-13, suggesting that ADAMTS-13 opening increases epitope exposure and immune complex formation. Autoantibody titer against closed/open ADAMTS-13 and IgG subclass did not correlate with ADAMTS-13 antigen at presentation. Two patients with iTTP and persistent autoantibodies lost specificity for closed ADAMTS-13 in remission. Recognition of closed/open ADAMTS-13 and autoantibody IgG subclass between the first and second iTTP episodes were very similar.

ADAMTS-13 autoantibody binding is highly influenced by ADAMTS-13 conformation. Although this does not appear to modify the pathogenicity of autoantibodies, the autoantibody signature at relapse suggests that relapse represents re-emergence of the original autoimmune response rather than de novo presentation.