A non-complement-fixing antibody to β2 glycoprotein I as a novel therapy for antiphospholipid syndrome

A single-chain fragment variable(scFv) recognizing beta 2-glycoprotein 1 (beta 2GPI) from humans and other species was isolated from a human phage display library and engineered to contain an IgG1 hinge-CH2-CH3 domain. The scFv-Fc directed against beta 2GPI domain I-induced thrombosis and fetal loss, thus mimicking the effect of antibodies from patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Complement is involved in the biological effect of anti-beta 2GPI scFv-Fc, as demonstrated by its ability to promote in vitro and in vivo complement deposition and the failure to induce vascular thrombosis in C6-deficient rats and fetal loss in C5-depletedmice. A critical role for complement was also supported by the inability of the CH2-deleted scFv-Fc to cause vessel occlusion and pregnancy failure. This antibody prevented the pathological effects of anti-beta 2GPI antibodies from APS patients and displaced beta 2GPI-bound patient antibodies. The CH2-deleted antibody represents an innovative approach potentially useful to treat APS patients refractory to standard therapy.