T-helper cells as new players in ANCA-associated vasculitides

In anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitides (AAV), several observations support a key role of T-helper cells (CD4(+) T cells) in disease pathophysiology. An expanded population of effector memory CD4(+) T cells in AAV patients may contribute to tissue injury and disease progr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Arthritis research & therapy 2011-01, Vol.13 (4), p.236-236
Main Authors: Abdulahad, Wayel H, Lamprecht, Peter, Kallenberg, Cees G M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis - immunology
Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis - pathology
Humans
Review
T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology
T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - immunology
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Summary:In anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitides (AAV), several observations support a key role of T-helper cells (CD4(+) T cells) in disease pathophysiology. An expanded population of effector memory CD4(+) T cells in AAV patients may contribute to tissue injury and disease progression. In addition, functional impairment of regulatory T cells (T(Regs)) is reported in AAV patients. A fraction of T(Regs) have the capacity to differentiate into Th17 cells in the context of a proinflammatory environment. Therefore, nonfunctionality of T(Regs) described in AAV patients may be caused by their conversion into IL-17-producing cells that may contribute to granulomatous vasculitis. Further investigations directed at the plasticity of T(Regs) in AAV patients are warranted.
ISSN:1478-6354
1478-6362
DOI:10.1186/ar3362