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Epitope‐specific anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies: Do they matter? Can they be detected?
Author(s) -
SPECKS ULRICH
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
apmis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0903-4641
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0463.2009.02503.x
Subject(s) - myeloperoxidase , epitope , proteinase 3 , microscopic polyangiitis , antibody , immunology , antigen , cytoplasm , vasculitis , granulomatosis with polyangiitis , anti neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody , autoantibody , in vitro , disease , biology , medicine , pathology , inflammation , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry
Proteinase 3 (PR3)‐anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO)‐ANCA are suggested to play a pathogenic role as they are closely related to the small‐vessel vasculitis syndromes, Wegener's granulomatosis and microscopic polyangiitis. A large body of in vitro and animal experiments supports this concept. The mechanisms of action involve a direct interaction between ANCA and its antigen. The epitope specificity of ANCA may therefore influence the functional effects of ANCA and/or may reflect the mechanisms behind different disease manifestations or disease courses.