Defining Novel Targets and Biological Interventions in Human and Experimental Glomerulonephritis

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV), is an autoimmune disease which causes inflammation of the small blood vessels of the kidney , which if left untreated causes glomerulonephritis. Current treatment does not address what causes the disease, it is toxic and can cause complications which contributes to death in patients suffering from AAV. The overall objective of this thesis was to contribute to the understanding of how AAV is caused at a cellular level, identify new potential therapeutic targets (in human tissue) and assess the benefits of two novel treatment strategies in experimental animal models of AAV.