The leading cause of end stage renal disease, where dialysis or transplantation is needed for survival, is glomerulonephritis, which is characterised by inflammation of the kidney’s filtration unit, the glomeruli. My research is focused on a group of autoimmune diseases with high incidence of glomerulonephritis (70%); ANCA-associated vasculitis (ANCA=anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies). Excessive production and/or reduced removal rate of extracellular DNA-protein complexes is thought to contribute to inflammation and autoimmune reactions in these diseases. Dysregulated immune regulation contributes to these events.
The purpose with my research is to investigate, interfere with and modulate the release and removal of such structures from cells of the immune system, particularly neutrophils and T-cells, and to study how B-cells can regulate inflammation. This aims not only to advance our understanding of the pathogenesis but also to identify novel therapeutic targets and strategies for treatment. While current treatments can induce remission, about half of the patients experience a relapse within five years, and the mortality rate within this timeframe is 25%. There is therefore a great need for more efficient treatment, and biomarkers to monitor disease activity.