Characterization and acute phase modulation of canine apolipoprotein H (beta 2-glycoprotein I)

Apolipoprotein H (ApoH) is a 50 kDa glycoprotein capable of binding to negatively charged phospholipids and is a probable inhibitor of the blood coagulation pathway, platelet aggregation, and platelet prothrombinase activity, as well as being involved in autoimmune disease. We have cloned and sequenced a full length ApoH cDNA clone from a beagle dog liver library. Its derived amino acid sequence shows high cross-species similarity to ApoH from other mammals. Canine ApoH mRNA expression is down regulated during an experimentally induced inflammatory response establishing that it is a negative acute phase reactant.