Faculty Collaboration Database

Reactivity of autoantibodies from patients with defined subepidermal bullous diseases against 1 mol/L salt-split skin. Specificity, sensitivity, and practical considerations. J Am Acad Dermatol 1996 Sep;35(3 Pt 1):398-403

Date

09/01/1996

Pubmed ID

8784276

DOI

10.1016/s0190-9622(96)90604-0

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0029758388 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   63 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Circulating IgG anti-basement membrane autoantibodies from patients with subepidermal bullous diseases can be categorized on the basis of their pattern of reactivity against 1 mol/L sodium chloride (NaCl)-split skin.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to define by immunochemical techniques the specific antigen(s) targeted by IgG autoantibodies from a group of patients with subepidermal blistering diseases and then (1) prospectively determine which side(s) of 1 mol/L NaCl-split skin is (are) bound by these patients' autoantibodies, (2) compare the sensitivity of intact and 1 mol/L NaCl-split skin for the detection of these autoantibodies; and (3) devise a practical method to distinguish patients with antiepiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid from those with other subepidermal blistering diseases.

METHODS: Investigative techniques included direct and indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, immunoprecipitation studies, and immunoblotting.

RESULTS: These studies identified 14 patients whose sera immunoprecipitate bullous pemphigoid antigens 1, 2, or both. These patients' circulating IgG anti-basement membrane autoantibodies bind the epidermal (n = 11), epidermal and dermal (n = 2), or dermal (n = 1) sides of 1 mol/L NaCl-split skin by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. In contrast, IgG from all patients with autoantibodies directed against type VII collagen (n = 5) or epiligrin (n = 6) bind only the dermal side of 1 mol/L NaCl-split skin. In all but one patient in this series, 1 mol/L NaCl-split skin proved to be a more sensitive test substrate than intact human skin for detection of circulating IgG anti-basement membrane autoantibodies. Patients with antiepiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid were distinguished from other patients in that their circulating autoantibodies bound epidermal basement membrane in the skin of primates but not small mammals.

CONCLUSION: NaCl-split skin (1 mol/L) of various species is a sensitive and practical indirect immunofluorescence microscopy test substrate for the evaluation of patients with IgG anti-basement membrane autoantibodies and evaluation of subepidermal bullous diseases.

Author List

Lazarova Z, Yancey KB

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Antigens
Autoantibodies
Basement Membrane
Blister
Cell Adhesion Molecules
Collagen
Epidermis
Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct
Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
Humans
Immunoblotting
Immunoglobulin G
Microscopy, Fluorescence
Pemphigoid, Benign Mucous Membrane
Pemphigoid, Bullous
Precipitin Tests
Prospective Studies
Sensitivity and Specificity
Skin
Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous
Sodium Chloride