title: What you should know about PR3-ANCA. Evidence for the role of T cells in the pathogenesis of systemic vasculitis.
abstract: The pathogenesis of systemic vasculitis is complex and is likely to involve many mechanisms. There is a growing body of evidence that T cells may contribute to the pathogenesis of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides. Predominantly, T cells and monocytes are found in inflammatory infiltrates in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). The production of ANCA appears to be T-cell-dependent. T lymphocytes from the peripheral blood of patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis have been shown to proliferate in response to proteinase 3 (PR3). These and other findings outlined in this review indicate T-cell involvement, although further studies are still needed to elucidate the exact contribution of T cells to the pathogenesis of systemic vasculitis.
authors.affiliation: MRC Centre for Immune Regulation, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Savage
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D053146:Myeloblastin; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D016207:Cytokines; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D053146:Myeloblastin