C-ANCA

c-ANCAs, or Cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, are a type of autoantibody, an antibody produced by the body that acts against one of its own proteins. These antibodies show a diffusely granular, cytoplasmic staining pattern under microscopy. This pattern results from binding of ANCAs to antigen targets throughout the neutrophil cytoplasm, the most common protein target being proteinase 3 (PR3). For example, PR3 is the most common antigen target of ANCA in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis. In active Wegener's, c-ANCA is found over 90% of the time. Other antigens may also occasionally result in a c-ANCA pattern.