The invention relates to a method for the treatment or prophylaxis of chronic inflammatory diseases. Such diseases may be treated or prevented according to the invention by administering an effective amount of a compound that interferes with binding between IgA and the Fc receptor for IgA ( FcalphaR1 or CD89 ) to a patient in need of such a treatment. In more mechanistic terms, the invention relates to a method for decreasing migration of polymorphonuclear cells and/or infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells by blocking the binding between IgA and CD89. In other terms, the invention relates to a method for preventing activation of polymorphonuclear cells or immune cells by blocking the binding between IgA and CD89, such as by blocking the IgA binding site on CD89 or by blocking the CD89 binding site on IgA.
