Our laboratory studies clinical and basic aspects of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). APS is an autoimmune condition in which autoantibodies directed against several phospholipid-binding plasma proteins are associated with thrombosis and pregnancy loss. APS is one of the most common causes of acquired thrombophilia and of recurrent pregnancy losses.
The autoantibodies associated with this syndrome, particularly those directed against ß2-glycoprotein I, are thought to directly contribute to hypercoagulability. Our laboratory has demonstrated that these antibodies bind to blood monocytes and induce the expression of tissue factor, the molecular trigger of normal coagulation and many forms of thrombosis. We are currently investigating patterns of gene expression induced by antiphospholipid antibodies and the signal transduction pathways leading to tissue factor expression. Other projects include characterization of antiphospholipid antibodies and novel biomarkers of hypercoagulability, and multiplex cytokine profiling in APS and systemic lupus erythematosus.
The laboratory is also the coordinating center of the Antiphospholipid Syndrome Collaborative Registry (APSCORE), a multicenter project to support a broad range of research on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of APS. APSCORE has collected detailed clinical data, as well as blood and DNA specimens, from approximately 900 patients with antiphospholipid antibodies. These resources are available to the research community.
Studies of note: