Autoantibody formation against a 190-kDa antigen of the desmosomal plaque in pemphigus foliaceus

Br J Dermatol. 1997 Nov;137(5):774-9.

Abstract

We report changes in the antigen recognition pattern of sera from two pemphigus foliaceus patients with a long-term follow-up. The patients' sera were analysed by immunoblotting using different antigenic sources: cultured human keratinocytes, bovine tongue epithelium and a recombinant protein corresponding to the C-terminal end of the 230-kDa bullous pemphigoid antigen. While initial serum samples reacted exclusively with the 160-kDa desmoglein 1, the later sera reacted both with desmoglein 1 and a 190-kDa antigen immunolocalized to the desmosomal plaque, previously demonstrated to be recognized by sera of some patients with paraneoplastic pemphigus. IgG subclass analysis further showed that antidesmoglein 1 antibodies were of IgG1 and/or IgG4 subclasses, while anti-190-kDa antibodies were IgG3. The patients were free of malignancy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Autoantibodies / biosynthesis*
  • Autoantigens / immunology*
  • Desmosomes / immunology*
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron
  • Middle Aged
  • Pemphigus / immunology*
  • Pemphigus / pathology

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Autoantigens