Adoptive-transfer effects of intravenous immunoglobulin in autoimmunity

Abstract

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is an effective treatment for a variety of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. The mechanism of action of IVIG remains poorly understood, but a variety of theories have been suggested. Recent studies in murine models have indicated that some of the ameliorative effects of IVIG in autoimmunity can be repeated by the adoptive transfer of leukocytes that have been primed with IVIG. The active cell component within the leukocyte cell population in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) was determined to be CD11c+ dendritic cells. This review will highlight recent work in murine systems that indicates that the effects of IVIG can be adoptively transferred in some autoimmune diseases and inflammatory states. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010.