Netting neutrophils in autoimmune small-vessel vasculitis.

Kessenbrock, Kai; Krumbholz, Markus; Schönermarck, Ulf; Back, Walter; Gross, Wolfgang L; Werb, Zena; Gröne, Hermann-Josef; Brinkmann, Volker et al. · Nat Med · 2009

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Small-vessel vasculitis (SVV) is a chronic autoinflammatory condition linked to antineutrophil cytoplasm autoantibodies (ANCAs). Here we show that chromatin fibers, so-called neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), are released by ANCA-stimulated neutrophils and contain the targeted autoantigens proteinase-3 (PR3) and myeloperoxidase (MPO). Deposition of NETs in inflamed kidneys and circulating MPO-DNA complexes suggest that NET formation triggers vasculitis and promotes the autoimmune response against neutrophil components in individuals with SVV.

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