Neutrophil Functions of Patients With Vasculitis Related to Myeloperoxidase-Specific Anti-Neutrophil Antibody

Neutrophils are hypothesized to cause tissue damage resulting in the development of vasculitis and glomerulonephritis, although they are known to primarily take part in host defense functions. The infiltration of inflammatory cells, notably neu-trophils and macrophages, is observed in the progression of vasculitis. Neutrophils with activated status and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs), especially myeloperoxidase-specific (MPO)-ANCA, have been implicated in the development of vasculitis. The target molecule of MPO-ANCA is a lysosomal enzyme MPO that usually acts to kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi and that causes damage to the tissue due to the toxicity of its product, hypochlorite (OCl-). To elucidate the role of MPO-ANCA in the progression of vasculitis, a set of MPO-peptide fragments has been developed, and the corresponding epi-tope site for the specific monoclonal and/or oligoclonal antibody resulting in vasculitis has been determined. Recently, some mouse models have been used for analyzing the correlation between MPO and MPO-ANCA in relation to damage of blood vessels followed by the development of vasculitis. This review focuses on the role of activated neutrophils in the development of vasculitis associated with MPO-ANCA and the target molecules of ANCA. In addition, the reactivities of ANCA and inflammatory cytokines involving leukocyte-derived chemotaxin 2 (LECT2) are also discussed.