Micropartículas como sustrato antigénico en lupus eritematoso sistémico

Microparticles (MPs) are a heterogeneous group of vesicles generated from the plasma membranes of different cell types during apoptosis and cell activation. They are involved in intercellular communication, haemostasis, angiogenesis, vascular reactivity and inflammation. An increase in some types of circulating MPs has been observed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It has recently been proposed that these structures may act as a source of autoantigens in SLE.