Molecular insights into the disease mechanisms of type II mixed cryoglobulinemia

Abstract

Several epidemiological and clinico-pathological observations suggest that the pathogenesis of type II MC (MC-II) is multifactorial and multistep. Strongly associated with MC-II is the presence of cryoprecipitates, thought to be involved in the maintenance and perpetuation of the disease. The biological characteristics of MC-II cryoglobulins are extremely relevant to the etiopathogenetic mechanisms linking hepatitis C virus antigen stimulation to autoimmunity and to lymphoproliferation. Currently, there are no data clearly demonstrating the component responsible for cryoprecipitation. However, several findings from studies of cryoimmunoglobulin glycosylation together with the characterization of monoclonal IgM rheumatoid factor activity/recognition may provide a better understanding of the pathologic process linking cryoprecipitation with hepatitis C virus infection.