Anti-laminin-1 autoantibodies, pregnancy loss and endometriosis.

Abstract

Laminin-1 is a major component and multifunctional glycoprotein of basement membranes that consists of three different subunits, alpha1, beta1 and gamma11 chains. It is the earliest synthesized network-forming protein during embryogenesis and plays an important role in embryonic development, embryonic implantation and placentation. We have recently shown that IgG anti-laminin-1 antibodies were significantly associated with recurrent first-trimester miscarriages and with subsequent pregnancy outcome. Interestingly, these antibodies were also observed in patients with endometriosis-associated infertility but not in patients with other causes of infertility, including tubal factors, hormonal and uterine abnormalities. Laminin-alpha1, -beta1 and -gamma1 mRNAs have been detected in 90% of endometriotic lesions and all laminin-alpha1, -beta1 and -gamma1 chains were localized in the basement membranes of glandular epithelium in endometriotic peritoneal lesions. Western blot analysis showed that anti-laminin-1 antibodies from those patients reacted with all laminin-1's chains. ELISA also confirmed that one of the target epitopes for these antibodies was located in a particular region of the laminin-1 molecule, i.e. the carboxyl-terminal globular G domain of alpha1 chain. IgM monoclonal anti-laminin-1 autoantibody, that we recently established, also recognized the G domain. Anti-laminin-1 antibodies from mice immunized with "mouse" laminin-1, caused a higher fetal resorption rate with lower embryonic and placental weights. Thus, anti-laminin-1 antibodies may be important in development of autoimmune-mediated reproductive failures and the assessment of the antibodies may provide a novel non-invasive diagnosis of endometriosis.

• Authors: Junko Inagaki, Akane Kondo, Luis R Lopez, Yehuda Shoenfeld, Eiji Matsuura
• Journal: Clinical & developmental immunology (Clin Dev Immunol) 2004 Sep-Dec Vol. 11 Issue 3-4 Pg. 261-6 ISSN: 1740-2522 [Print] Egypt
• PMID: 15559372 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Immunoglobulin G
• Immunoglobulin M
• Laminin
• Protein Subunits
• laminin 1

Topics

• Abortion, Habitual (immunology)
• Adult
• Animals
• Autoantibodies (metabolism)
• Endometriosis (complications, immunology)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin G (metabolism)
• Immunoglobulin M (metabolism)
• Infertility, Female (etiology, immunology)
• Laminin (chemistry, immunology)
• Models, Molecular
• Pregnancy
• Protein Subunits