Immunotherapy for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody–associated vasculitis: challenging the therapeutic status quo?

• Published in: Trends in immunology Vol. 29; no. 6; pp. 280 - 289
• Main Authors: Bosch, Xavier, Guilabert, Antonio, Espinosa, Gerard, Mirapeix, Eduard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2008; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adeno-associated virus; Allergy and Immunology; Animals; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic - immunology; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic - metabolism; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity; Antibody-Producing Cells - drug effects; Antibody-Producing Cells - metabolism; Autoimmunity; Disease; Endothelial Cells - immunology; Endothelial Cells - metabolism; Humans; Immune system; Inflammation Mediators - immunology; Inflammation Mediators - metabolism; Leukocytes; Lymphocytes; Microscopy; Neutrophil Activation - immunology; Neutrophils - immunology; Neutrophils - metabolism; Paracrine Communication - immunology; Pathogenesis; Patients; Respiratory Burst - genetics; Respiratory Burst - immunology; Rituximab; Rodents; Signal Transduction - immunology; Vasculitis - immunology; Vasculitis - physiopathology; Vasculitis - therapy

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are IgG antibodies directed against antigenic constituents of neutrophils contained in the azurophilic granules and monocyte lysosomes. Systemic vasculitis with ANCA [ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV)] is a subgroup of life-threatening inflammatory diso...