The Role of Antiphospholipid Antibodies in NETosis

The present project aims to investigate the role of antiphospholipid antibodies, particularly anti-β2GPI antibodies, in promoting NET formation and modulating endothelial cell activation, with particular attention to the mechanisms linking innate immunity, inflammation, and thrombosis.The research will focus on evaluating the ability of anti-β2GPI antibodies to induce NETosis and characterizing the effects of antibody-induced NETs on endothelial cells. Particular attention will be paid to the expression of adhesion molecules, including intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), as well as tissue factor (TF), a key mediator of coagulation activation. Furthermore, the potential involvement of NETs in endothelial dysfunction and extracellular vesicle release will be investigated.