A sensitive and specific assay for the serological diagnosis of antilaminin 332 mucous membrane pemphigoid.

BACKGROUND: Antilaminin 332 mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease with predominant mucosal involvement and autoantibodies against laminin 332. Malignancies have been associated with this disease; however, no standardized detection system for antilaminin 332 serum antibodies is widely available. OBJECTIVES: Development of a sensitive and specific assay for the detection of antilaminin 332 antibodies. METHODS: An indirect immunofluorescence (IF) assay using recombinant laminin 332 was developed and probed with a large number of antilaminin 332 MMP patient sera (n = 93), as well as sera from patients with antilaminin 332-negative MMP (n = 153), bullous pemphigoid (n = 20), pemphigus vulgaris (n = 20) and noninflammatory dermatoses (n = 22), and healthy blood donors (n = 100). RESULTS: In the novel IF assay, sensitivities with the laminin 332 heterotrimer and the individual α3, ß3 and γ2 chains were 77%, 43%, 41% and 13%, respectively, with specificities of 100% for each substrate. The sensitivity for the heterotrimer increased when an anti-IgG4 enriched antitotal IgG conjugate was applied. Antilaminin 332 reactivity paralleled disease activity and was associated with malignancies in 25% of patients with antilaminin 332 MMP. CONCLUSIONS: The novel IF-based assay will facilitate the serological diagnosis of antilaminin 332 MMP and may help to identify patients at risk of a malignancy.

Cutaneous Crohn's disease mimicking Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome: treatment with methotrexate.

A woman with a 5-year history of unilateral orofacial granulomatosis required repeated evaluations (including sequential colonoscopies) to establish the diagnosis of cutaneous Crohn's disease, a condition that proved responsive to low doses of oral methotrexate administered weekly. To our knowledge this is the first report describing the use of methotrexate for treatment of orofacial granulomatosis caused by underlying Crohn's disease.

Development of spliceosome-mediated RNA trans-splicing (SMaRT) for the correction of inherited skin diseases.

Gene therapy of large genes (e.g. plectin and collagen genes) is hampered by size limitations for insertions of the currently used viral vectors. To reduce the size of these insertions spliceosome-mediated RNA trans-splicing (SMaRT), which provides intron-specific gene-correction at the pre-RNA level, can be an alternative approach. To test its applicability in skin gene therapy, SMaRT was used in the context of the 4003delTC mutation in the collagen XVII gene (COL17A1) causing generalized atrophic benign junctional epidermolysis bullosa. A beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) trans-splicing assay system was established using intron 51 of COL17A1 as the target for trans-splicing. In this system, intron 51 is flanked by the 5'exon and the 3'exon of the beta-gal gene, the latter containing two in-frame stop codons. Cotransfection of a pre-trans-splicing molecule consisting of the binding domain of intron 51 and the 3'exon of beta-gal without the stop codons resulted in a 300-fold increase of beta-gal activity compared to controls. A 2-3-fold increase in efficiency was obtained through an elongation of the binding domains. Replacement of the complete 3'end of the COL17A1 gene was shown using a collagen XVII mini-gene construct. The beta-gal assay was used in human keratinocytes to evaluate the influence of a keratinocyte-specific spliceosome background. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and beta-gal activity assay showed functional correction of the stop-codons in cultured human keratinocytes and in an immortalized GABEB cell line harbouring the 4003delTC mutation. These results demonstrate that SMaRT is feasible in a keratinocyte-specific context and therefore may be applied in skin gene therapy.

Combination treatment of bullous pemphigoid with anti-CD20 and anti-CD25 antibodies in a patient with chronic graft-versus-host disease.

In this case report we describe a novel treatment with two chimeric monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) targeting the autoimmune B cell clone responsible for bullous pemphigoid (BP) as a manifestation of steroid refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) that developed after unrelated cord blood transplantation. Monitoring the BP-specific circulating antibodies and CD25-expressing activated T lymphocyte subset led us to combine anti-CD20 (Rituximab) mediated B cell ablation with anti-CD25 (Daclizumab) therapy to block CD4(+) T cell help. Complete clinical and serologic response was achieved within 4 weeks of initiation of therapy allowing global immunosuppression to be dramatically reduced.

Comprehensive analysis of gene expression profiles in keratinocytes from patients with generalized atrophic benign epidermolysis bullosa.

Generalized atrophic benign epidermolysis bullosa [GABEB (OMIM no. 226650)] is an inherited subepidermal blistering disease typically caused by null mutations in COL17A1, the gene encoding type XVII collagen. Studies of GABEB keratinocytes homozygous for 4003delTC showed that this 2 bp deletion results in markedly reduced COL17A1 transcripts due to nonsense mediated-mRNA decay. To explore consequences of this null mutation in COL17A1 on the expression of other genes, RNA samples from reference GABEB and normal keratinocytes were profiled in comparative screens of microarrays of known cDNAs (n = 6180) and expressed sequence tags (ESTs) (n = 15 144). All comparative hybridization experiments were performed > or = twice; data were quantitated by densitometry and analyzed using peak quantification statistical comparative analysis (P-SCAN) software to identify differentially expressed genes. Representative genes found to be differentially expressed were verified using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). These experiments determined that expression of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay trans-acting factor (NMD-F), the regulator of nonsense transcripts (i.e. the human homolog of the yeast Upf1 protein), was upregulated in GABEB keratinocytes. NMD-F was subsequently found to be upregulated in cultured keratinocytes from other GABEB patients homozygous for 4003delTC. These findings indicate that the gene responsible for nonsense-mediated mRNA decay is upregulated in keratinocytes known to eliminate mutant COL17A1 transcripts via this highly conserved mechanism.

Cicatricial pemphigoid: IgA and IgG autoantibodies target epitopes on both intra- and extracellular domains of bullous pemphigoid antigen 180.

BACKGROUND: Cicatricial pemphigoid (CP) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease where autoantibodies target various components of the dermal-epidermal junction, including the bullous pemphigoid antigen 180 (BP180). OBJECTIVE: We determined the exact specificity of circulating IgG and IgA autoantibodies to BP180 in a large number of CP patients. METHODS: Twenty-six consecutive CP sera were analysed by Western blotting using a panel of cell-derived and recombinant proteins covering the entire BP180 molecule. RESULTS: Circulating autoantibodies were detected in all CP sera. Seven sera reacting with laminin-5 were excluded from further analyses; the remaining 19 sera recognized BP180, including six sera (32%) that showed only IgA reactivity to this protein. With the combined use of the soluble BP180 ectodomain (LAD-1) and recombinant BP180 NC16A, 16 of these 19 CP sera (84%) targeted BP180. IgG reactivity was preferentially found against NC16A, whereas IgA antibodies predominantly recognized LAD-1. Thirty-two per cent of the BP180-reative sera revealed reactivity with the intracellular domain of this protein. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that autoantibodies in CP target epitopes on both extra- and intracellular domains of BP180 and highlight the importance of testing for both IgG and IgA reactivity in these patients' sera.

Treatment of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita with the humanized anti-Tac mAb daclizumab.

Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease characterized by IgG anti-basement membrane autoantibodies to collagen VII. Since autoantibody formation in EBA patients is thought to be T-cell-dependent, the degree of T cell activation in three patients (all males, ages 33-44 years) was assessed by quantitation of soluble Tac, a fragment of the alpha-subunit of the high-affinity IL-2 receptor (CD25). Soluble Tac levels in all patients were elevated [highest random values, 2430, 920, and 560 IU/ml (normal range, 112-502)]. Based on such findings, these patients were treated with the humanized murine monoclonal anti-Tac antibody daclizumab (1 mg/kg, 6-12 iv treatments at 2- to 4-week intervals). All patients had a significant, rapid, and persistent decrease in lymphocyte CD25 expression. Though a moderate decrease in lymphocyte expression of 7G7, an IL-2 receptor epitope not bound by daclizumab, was noted, stable levels of CD3 cells and in vitro saturation studies indicated that daclizumab effectively bound CD25 and did not promote clearance of such cells from peripheral blood. There were no complications and no patient developed antibodies against daclizumab. While no apparent clinical benefit was seen in two patients with dermolytic disease, one patient with inflammatory EBA had a favorable response. While on daclizumab, this patient stopped prednisone, significantly reduced dapsone, and improved clinically. Furthermore, his disease flared when treatment was stopped, and resumption of daclizumab again effected improvement within 2 weeks. Daclizumab therapy is safe and well tolerated in EBA patients. It may be effective as a corticosteroid sparing agent in patients with inflammatory EBA.

IgG autoantibodies in patients with anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid recognize the G domain of the laminin 5 alpha-subunit.

Anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid (AECP) is a mucosal-predominant, subepithelial blistering disease characterized by IgG anti-basement membrane autoantibodies to laminin 5 (alpha3beta3gamma2). This and prior studies found that autoantibodies from most patients recognize the alpha-subunit of this laminin isoform. Accordingly, sera from 10 representative patients were tested against prokaryotic recombinants of this polypeptide in epitope mapping studies. cDNAs spanning the full length of the alpha-subunit were generated by PCR, directionally cloned into the pGEX-4T-3 vector, and expressed as glutathione-S-transferase fusion proteins of appropriate size and immunoreactivity. Sera from 9 of 10 AECP patients immunoblotted fusion proteins corresponding to subdomains G2, G3, G4, and G5 at the carboxyl terminus of the laminin 5 alpha-subunit. Serum from 1 patient (and that from normal volunteers) showed no reactivity to any fusion proteins; no sera bound recombinant glutathione-S-transferase alone. Immunoadsorption of patient sera with fusion proteins corresponding to the G domain substantially reduced basement membrane autoantibody titers. IgG from patients with this form of cicatricial pemphigoid recognize the portion of laminin 5 thought to play a key role in promoting keratinocyte adhesion to epidermal basement membrane.

Anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid and relative risk for cancer.

It is not known whether patients with anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid (AECP) have an increased risk of malignancy. We calculated the expected numbers of cancers in a cohort of 35 such patients based on respective incidence rates for all cancers in the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (NCI SEER) Registry. Ten patients in this cohort had solitary solid cancers; eight patients developed cancer after onset of AECP (seven within 14 months). The relative risk (RR) for cancer in this cohort was 6.8 (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 3.3-12.5). AECP seems to be associated with an increased relative risk for cancer.

The hSkn-1a POU transcription factor enhances epidermal stratification by promoting keratinocyte proliferation.

Skn-1a is a POU transcription factor that is primarily expressed in the epidermis and is known to modulate the expression of several genes associated with keratinocyte differentiation. However, the formation of a stratified epidermis requires a carefully controlled balance between keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation, and a role for Skn-1a in this process has not been previously demonstrated. Here, our results show, surprisingly, that human Skn-1a contributes to epidermal stratification by primarily promoting keratinocyte proliferation and secondarily by enhancing the subsequent keratinocyte differentiation. In organotypic raft cultures of both primary human keratinocytes and immortalized HaCaT keratinocytes, human Skn-1a expression is associated with increased keratinocyte proliferation and re-epithelialization of the dermal substrates, resulting in increased numbers of keratinocytes available for the differentiation process. In these same raft cultures, human Skn-1a expression enhances the phenotypic changes of keratinocyte differentiation and the upregulated expression of keratinocyte differentiation genes. Conversely, expression of a dominant negative human Skn-1a transcription factor lacking the C-terminal transactivation domain blocks keratinocytes from proliferating and stratifying. Keratinocyte stratification is dependent on a precise balance between keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation, and our results suggest that human Skn-1a has an important role in maintaining epidermal homeostasis by promoting keratinocyte proliferation.

The clinical and immunopathological manifestations of anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid, a recently defined subepithelial autoimmune blistering disease.

Cicatricial pemphigoid (CP) is a rare, acquired, autoimmune, subepithelial blistering disease. It primarily affects mucous membranes but it also may involve the skin. Morbidity is associated with the propensity for scar formation and may be especially severe when mucosal surfaces such as the conjunctivae, larynx, esophagus, or urethra are involved. On direct immunofluorescence microscopy, CP is characterized by the linear deposition of immunoreactants, principally IgG and C3, along epithelial basement membranes. Over the last 10 years, studies in a number of laboratories have shown that circulating autoantibodies in patients with CP may target one of several different autoantigens. One subset of patients with the CP-phenotype have IgG anti-basement membrane autoantibodies against laminin 5 (alpha3beta3gamma2) (i.e., patients with anti-epiligrin CP [AECP]). This review discusses recent advances in the understanding of CP and emphasizes salient features of AECP pathophysiology.

The 120-kDa soluble ectodomain of type XVII collagen is recognized by autoantibodies in patients with pemphigoid and linear IgA dermatosis.

BACKGROUND: Type XVII collagen promotes adhesion of basal keratinocytes to epidermal basement membrane, and is the target of disease in patients with certain inherited or acquired blistering diseases. Two forms of type XVII collagen are produced by cultured human keratinocytes: a 180-kDa full-length, transmembrane protein, and a recently identified 120-kDa soluble fragment that corresponds to its collagenous ectodomain. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the incidence and pattern of reactivity of autoantibodies against the 180- and 120-kDa forms of type XVII collagen in sera from 40 patients with bullous pemphigoid (BP), pemphigoid gestationis or cicatricial pemphigoid (CP), as well as six patients with linear IgA dermatosis (LAD). METHODS: Various immunochemical techniques were used. RESULTS: These studies found that the 120-kDa fragment of type XVII collagen was bound by circulating autoantibodies in 13 of 38 patients with BP or CP and all six patients with LAD. While many pemphigoid sera had specific reactivity against one but not both forms of this protein, autoantibodies from patients with LAD bound only the soluble ectodomain. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are consistent with the presence of both neoepitopes and cross-reactive epitopes on the ectodomain of type XVII collagen. The finding that sera from patients with LAD showed specific reactivity to epidermal basement membrane suggests that such neoepitopes are present in human skin and that their targeting by autoantibodies may contribute to disease pathogenesis.

Pemphigoid: clinical, histologic, immunopathologic, and therapeutic considerations.

Autoimmune blistering diseases are generally distinct entities characterized by relatively consistent clinical, histologic, and immunopathologic findings. These disorders may cause impaired adhesion of epidermis to epidermal basement membrane (eg, the pemphigoid group of disorders [bullous, gestational, and mucous membrane]) or impaired adhesion of epidermal cells to each other (eg, the pemphigus group of disorders). Recent studies have shown that these disorders are characterized by autoantibodies that often display pathogenic (ie, blister-forming) activity in passive transfer models. Interestingly, the autoantigens targeted by these patients' autoantibodies represent important structural proteins that promote cell matrix (eg, pemphigoid) or cell-to-cell (eg, pemphigus) adhesion in skin. Autoimmune blistering diseases are characterized by substantial morbidity (pruritus, pain, disfigurement), and in some instances, mortality (secondary to loss of epidermal barrier function). Treatment with systemic immunosuppressives has reduced morbidity and mortality in patients with these diseases. JAMA. 2000;284:350-356

Fab fragments directed against laminin 5 induce subepidermal blisters in neonatal mice.

Patients with one form of cicatricial pemphigoid have IgG autoantibodies directed against laminin 5 (alpha3beta3gamma2), an adhesion protein in epidermal basement membrane. Anti-laminin 5 autoantibodies are not found in patients with other skin or mucosal diseases and hence serve as a specific marker for this autoimmune blistering disorder. The demonstration that experimental and patient anti-laminin 5 IgG are pathogenic in animal models indicated that such autoantibodies are central to disease pathophysiology. To investigate further the role of antibody valence and complement in triggering lesion formation in vivo, rabbit anti-laminin 5 (or normal, control) Fab fragments were passively transferred to neonatal BALB/c mice. Mice receiving anti-laminin 5 Fab fragments developed, in a dose-related fashion, circulating anti-basement membrane antibodies, deposits of immunoreactive rabbit IgG (but not murine C3) in epidermal basement membranes, and subepithelial blisters of skin and mucous membranes. Such alterations were not observed in mice treated with equivalent concentrations of normal rabbit Fab fragments. These studies demonstrated that neither complement activation nor cross-linking of laminin 5 in epidermal basement membranes was required for induction of subepidermal blister formation in this animal model of a human autoimmune bullous disease.

Subepidermal blistering disease with autoantibodies against a novel dermal 200-kDa antigen.

A number of autoimmune subepidermal blistering diseases are characterized by the distinct autoantigens of the cutaneous basement membrane zone. Recently, a few cases with autoantibodies against a novel 200-kDa dermal protein have been reported. We collected nine cases of subepidermal blistering disease with IgG antibodies against this 200-kDa antigen. In this report, we describe the clinical and immunological appearances in these cases. Five cases showed bullous pemphigoid-like features, one case resembled dermatitis herpetiformis, and another case showed mixed features of bullous pemphigoid and linear IgA bullous dermatosis. It was interesting to note that psoriasis coexisted in four cases. By indirect immunofluorescence on 1 M NaCl split skin, IgG antibodies from all sera reacted with the dermal side of the split. By immunoblot analysis, IgG antibodies recognized a 200-kDa protein of dermal extract. IgG affinity-purified antibodies on the 200-kDa immunoblot membrane stained the dermal side of 1 M NaCl split skin. Various examinations suggested that the 200-kDa antigen is not identical to any chains of laminins-1, -5 or -6. This autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease against the dermal 200-kDa protein may form a new distinct entity, which often associates with psoriasis.

Inflammatory variant of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita with IgG autoantibodies against type VII collagen and laminin alpha3.

BACKGROUND: The inflammatory variant of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) may clinically closely resemble bullous or cicatricial pemphigoid. Patients with inflammatory EBA have IgG autoantibodies against type VII collagen. Patients with anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid have IgG autoantibodies against laminin 5. OBSERVATION: We describe a patient with inflammatory EBA exhibiting nonscarring oral and vaginal involvement. Indirect immunofluorescence using skin substrate lacking an epidermal basement membrane molecule, direct immunoelectron microscopy, immunoblot, and immunoprecipitation studies revealed the simultaneous presence of circulating IgG autoantibodies against type VII collagen and laminin alpha3. A final diagnosis of EBA was based on the sublamina densa level of blister formation. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates the clinical and immunological overlap between EBA and anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid, a unique finding that may have developed as a consequence of epitope spreading.

Human anti-laminin 5 autoantibodies induce subepidermal blisters in an experimental human skin graft model.

Patients with one form of cicatricial pemphigoid have IgG antibasement membrane autoantibodies against laminin 5 (alpha3beta3gamma2). Although passive transfer of rabbit anti-laminin 5 IgG to neonatal mice has been shown to induce subepidermal blisters that mimic those in patients, it has not been possible to directly assess the pathogenic activity of human autoantibodies in this animal model because the latter do not bind murine skin. To address this question, a disease model in adult mice as well as SCID mice bearing human skin grafts was developed. Adult BALB/C mice challenged with rabbit anti-laminin 5 IgG developed, in a concentration-related fashion, erythema, erosions, and crusts surrounding injection sites, histologic evidence of noninflammatory, subepidermal blisters, and deposits of rabbit IgG and murine C3 in epidermal basement membranes. Anti-laminin 5 IgG also induced subepidermal blisters in: adult complement-, mast cell-, and immuno-deficient mice; adult BALB/C mice pretreated with dexamethasone; and human skin grafts on SCID mice. Alterations did not develop in matching controls challenged with identical amounts of purified normal rabbit IgG or bovine serum albumin. Using this adult mouse model, human skin grafts on SCID mice were challenged with purified IgG from patients with alpha subunit-specific, anti-laminin 5 autoantibodies, or normal controls. Patient (but not control) IgG induced epidermal fragility as well as noninflammatory, subepidermal blisters in grafted human (but not adjacent murine) skin. Moreover, whereas all mice that received patient autoantibodies had anti-laminin 5 IgG in their circulation, deposits of human IgG were present only in the epidermal basement membranes of grafts. Interestingly, these in situ and circulating autoantibodies were predominately of the IgG4 subclass. These studies demonstrate that human anti-laminin 5 autoantibodies are pathogenic in vivo and describe an animal model that can be used to define disease pathomechanisms and biologically important domains within this autoantigen.

Antiepiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid: an underdiagnosed entity within the spectrum of scarring autoimmune subepidermal bullous diseases?

BACKGROUND: Antiepiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid (AECP) is a chronic autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease characterized by autoantibodies to laminin 5 and clinical features of cicatricial pemphigoid. Only a few patients with AECP have been described to date. The aim of the present study was to analyze the relative frequency of AECP among patients with the clinical phenotype of cicatricial pemphigoid. OBSERVATIONS: Serum from 16 consecutive patients with the clinical phenotype of cicatricial pemphigoid were included in this study. Nine patients had circulating IgG autoantibodies by indirect immunofluorescence on sodium chloride-split skin; patients' IgG bound to the epidermal side (n = 2), dermal side (n = 5), or both sides (n = 2) of this test substrate. Interestingly, all 5 cases with dermal binding immunoprecipitated laminin 5 from extracts and media of cultured keratinocytes, and 4 of these serum samples reacted with the alpha3 subunit of laminin 5 by immunoblotting. None of the patients with dermal binding of IgG demonstrated autoantibodies to type VII collagen. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that, among patients with the clinical phenotype of cicatricial pemphigoid, AECP may be more frequent than previously assumed.

Mucosal morbidity in patients with epidermolysis bullosa acquisita.

BACKGROUND: Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita is an acquired inflammatory and/or dermolytic subepidermal blistering disease characterized by IgG autoantibodies to type VII collagen. Four patients with documented epidermolysis bullosa acquisita were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team of care providers (4 dermatologists, an ophthalmologist, a radiologist, a voice and speech specialist, and an otolaryngologist) for 1 to 5 years to characterize mucosal involvement and its complications and response to treatment. Patients were evaluated clinically and by slitlamp examinations, endoscopies, computed tomographic scans, and videofluorographic swallowing studies. Spiral computed tomographic scans for virtual endoscopy were used for the nontraumatic evaluation of airways in 2 patients with respiratory tract compromise. OBSERVATIONS: Involvement of 5 or more mucosal sites--mouth, nose, conjunctiva, pharynx, and larynx--was documented in all patients. Complications included ankyloglossia, periodontal disease, scarring and crusting of nasal mucosa, symblepharon formation, obstruction of nasolacrimal ducts, deformation of the epiglottis, impaired phonation, dysphagia, esophageal strictures, and supraglottic stenosis requiring emergency tracheostomy. CONCLUSIONS: Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita may extensively (or predominantly) affect mucosal epithelia in a manner resembling cicatricial pemphigoid. Mucosal disease in these patients is often subclinical, can lead to serious complications, and is best managed using a multidisciplinary approach.