Figure 3.

Schematic representation of alternative mechanism of linking anti-Ro antibodies to the development of atrioventricular block: fetal cardiomyocytes undergoing “physiological” apoptosis cause the surface translocation of the intracellular located Ro antigens. Circulating maternal anti-Ro antibodies which can cross the placenta, subsequently bind to the translocated Ro antigens at the cell surface; provoke the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines such as TGFβ from macrophages. Excessive TGFβ secretion activates fibroblasts leading to scars promoting myofibroblasts in the Atrioventricular node, resulting in atrioventricular block.