Gnawing at Metchnikoff's paradigm.

In this issue of Blood, Rossi et al provide convincing evidence that extends and generalizes the importance of trogocytosis, a process in which effector cells use Fcg receptors to remove Immunoglobulin G (IgG)-chelated antigens from donor cells. Their work suggests that the process may be beneficial in the context of epratuzumab treatment of autoimmune diseases.