Background: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are associated with small-vessel vasculitis and have been implicated in its pathogenesis. The subclass distribution of ANCA IgG deviates from normal patterns, and it has been suggested that the IgG3 subclass may have pathogenic potential over the IgG1 subclass and may be more likely to be associated with active disease and renal involvement. Objective: To deal with potential pathogenicity, chimeric antibodies were constructed of IgG1 and three subclasses with human IgG1 or three constant regions and a murine-derived variable region that binds an epitope within the ANCA antigen proteinase 3 (PR3) that is recognised by human autoantibodies. Methods: The antibodies were characterised for binding to PR3, including affinity and avidity, before being used as tools to explore their ability to activate human neutrophils for superoxide release, cytokine release, degranulation and ability to induce neutrophil adhesion under flow. Results: Both subclass antibodies elicited similar neutrophil responses for superoxide release, degranulation and interleukin (IL) 8 production, although quantitative responses showed that the IgG1 subclass favoured degranulation and the IgG3 subclass favoured IL8 production. Both antibodies were able to convert neutrophils from selectin-dependent rolling adhesion to integrin-dependent stationary adhesion in a flow assay. Conclusions: These findings indicate that humanised antibodies directed against a single epitope of PR3 can recapitulate the effects of polyclonal human ANCA, which recognises multiple PR3 epitopes. Further, PR3-ANCA of both IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses can activate neutrophils, although the more potent IL8 response by IgG3 PR3-ANCA may encourage further neutrophil recruitment and amplify injury.

bRegulating appropriate activation of the immune response in the healthy host despite continual immune surveillance dictates that immune responses must be either self-limiting and therefore negatively regulated following their activation or prevented from developing inappropriately. In the case of antigen-specific T cells, their response is attenuated by several mechanisms, including ligation of CTLA-4 and PD-1. Through the study of the viral OX2 (vOX2) immunoregulator encoded by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), we have identified a T cell-attenuating role both for this protein and for CD200, a cellular orthologue of the viral vOX2 protein. In vitro, antigen-presenting cells (APC) expressing either native vOX2 or CD200 suppressed two functions of cognate antigen-specific T cell clones: gamma interferon (IFN-␥) production and mobilization of CD107a, a cytolytic granule component and measure of target cell killing ability. Mechanistically, vOX2 and CD200 expression on APC suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase in responding T cells. These data provide the first evidence for a role of both KSHV vOX2 and cellular CD200 in the negative regulation of antigen-specific T cell responses. They suggest that KSHV has evolved to harness the host CD200-based mechanism of attenuation of T cell responses to facilitate virus persistence and dissemination within the infected individual. Moreover, our studies define a new paradigm in immune modulation by viruses: the provision of a negative costimulatory signal to T cells by a virus-encoded orthologue of CD200.

Summary Anti‐proteinase 3 antibodies are implicated in the pathogenesis of small vessel vasculitis. These are primarily immunoglobulin G (IgG), with different subclasses predominating at different stages of disease. However, little is known of their respective roles in pathogenesis. We have previously shown that patient IgG4 was able to induce superoxide release from human neutrophils. To circumvent difficulties in separating the subclasses and additional differences in polyclonal patient antibodies we have generated monoclonal mouse/human IgG1 and IgG4 anti‐proteinase 3 antibodies. Using these antibodies we have compared effects of IgG1 and IgG4 on human neutrophils in terms of superoxide release, cytokine production, degranulation and adhesion. Additionally we have investigated the interaction of the subclasses with Fc receptors expressed by the neutrophil. Chimeric antibodies were generated using human constant regions of each subclass and a variable region taken from a monoclonal antibody directed against proteinase 3. Superoxide release from neutrophils was measured by the reduction of ferricytochrome C, degranulation by the conversion of a synthetic colour substrate, cytokine release by interleukin‐8 enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and adhesion by a flow‐based adhesion assay. Fc receptor binding was assessed using blocking antibodies. The IgG4 anti‐proteinase 3 was able to induce a dose‐dependent release of superoxide, degranulation and adhesion. The antibody was not able to stimulate the secretion of interleukin‐8. Fc receptors were essential for neutrophil stimulation and the constitutive Fc receptors were necessary for different stimulatory pathways. The IgG4 anti‐proteinase 3 antibodies are able to stimulate neutrophils to undergo a pro‐inflammatory response and may play a role in the pathogenesis of small vessel vasculitis.