Related Experiment Videos
Strict correlation between uPAR and plakoglobin expression in pemphigus vulgaris
Lorenzo Lo Muzio1, Giuseppe Pannone, Stefania Staibano
1Institute of Dental Sciences, University of Ancona, Ancona, Italy. lomuziol@tin.it
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology
|October 3, 2002
Summary
Nuclear delocalization of plakoglobin is linked to urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) overexpression in pemphigus vulgaris (PV). This suggests plakoglobin
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Pathology
Background:
- Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is characterized by acantholysis.
- Nuclear delocalization of plakoglobin has been observed in PV cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of plakoglobin in PV pathogenesis.
- To examine the relationship between plakoglobin and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) expression in PV.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was used to assess plakoglobin and uPAR expression.
- Samples from 22 PV patients and 18 healthy controls were analyzed.
Main Results:
- PV patients showed progressive nuclear displacement of plakoglobin (18/22 cases).
- Strong uPAR expression was found in acantholytic cells of PV patients (16/22 cases).
- A significant positive correlation was observed between uPAR expression and nuclear plakoglobin (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- uPAR overexpression in PV is likely a consequence of abnormal plakoglobin distribution.
- Nuclear delocalization of plakoglobin, induced by PV IgG-mediated dissociation from Dsg-3, may drive uPAR gene expression.
- Plakoglobin's nuclear translocation plays a central role in PV pathogenesis.