title: T-lymphocytes and disease mechanisms in Wegener's granulomatosis.
abstract: The mechanisms underlying Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) are not well understood. The role of T-cells in the pathogenesis of WG has only recently come into focus of research. This review presents recent developments regarding the role of T-cells in WG. The occurrence of anti-neutrophil-cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) directed against proteinase-3 (PR-3) is a hallmark of WG. ANCA seem to mediate vasculitic damage in WG. Apart from ANCA, T-cells are involved in disease mechanisms. T-cells might participate in ANCA formation. Furthermore, T-cells are observed in affected tissue and granulomatous lesions. T-cells are indispensable for granuloma formation in other diseases and this might apply to WG too. In line with this, several aberrations of T-cell populations and alterations of the T-cell response were recently discovered in patients suffering from WG. Therefore, the impact of T-cell polarization, genotypic alterations modifying T-cell function and specific T-cell subsets on disease pathogenesis is discussed. Moreover, the influence of Staphylococcus aureus on T-cells and self-tolerance in WG is further elucidated. Finally, therapeutic options and implications with regard to T-cell-mediated pathogenesis are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wilde
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dolff
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Witzke
mesh_terms: D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005838:Genotype; D006099:Granuloma / Q000473:pathology; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines