The Role of Complement in Pre-Clinical Models of ANCA-associated Vasculitis

The ANCA associated vasculitides are diseases in which the immune system is misdirected to cause multi-organ injury. The complement cascade is a part of the immune system that is crucial for the activation of the white blood cells that cause tissue injury. Work described in this thesis uses mouse models to explore novel roles for the complement system in generating the autoimmunity that underlies this disease as well as investigation of the early steps that lead to complement activation. This helps to define the action of complement in this disease and may inform future therapeutic strategies.