Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 57, S2-S3, 2004
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Contribution of Myeloperoxidase in Vasculitis
Development
Kazuo Suzuki* and Tomio Okazaki1
Department of Bioactive Molecules, National Institute of Infectious
Diseases, Tokyo, 1Hiroshima City
Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
Corresponding author: ksuzuki@nih.go.jp
SUMMARY: Infiltrated neutrophils is believed to contribute to
the progression of vasculitis. In particular, myeloperoxidase
(MPO)-specific antibodies against neutrophils, anti-neutrophil
cytoplasmic antibodies (MPO-ANCA) is involved in the development
of vasculitis microscopic polyangiitis etc. In Japan a higher
percentage of MPO-ANCA than that in Europe has been reported In
addition, we showed a correlation of MPO-ANCA epitopes of Kawasaki
disease patients by 47% with that of mothers'. On the other hand,
mice having CADS/CAWS-induced vasculitis is a good model for the
analysis of the production of MPO-ANCA. We have clarified that
MPO is a major antigen for MPO-ANCA production using MPO KO mice.
We also investigated the role of activated neutrophils in nephritis
renal lesions using SCG/Kj mice. In the phase of nephritis with
low grade of proteinuria, the spontaneous release of MPO from
peripheral neutrophils increased, indicating that neutrophils
are activated and contribute to the development of active crescentic
lesion in SCG/Kj mice.