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Updated: May 13, 2026

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Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering
Published on: October 12, 2012
Pemphigus vulgaris autoantibody profiling by proteomic technique
Mina Kalantari-Dehaghi1, Grant J Anhalt, Michael J Camilleri
1Department of Dermatology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America. mkalanta@uci.edu
Plos One
|March 19, 2013
Summary
Researchers identified novel autoantibodies in pemphigus vulgaris (PV), a blistering disease. These new targets may improve diagnosis and explain disease variations in patients lacking traditional desmoglein antibodies.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Dermatology
- Autoimmunity
Background:
- Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a mucocutaneous blistering disease.
- Current understanding of PV pathophysiology is incomplete, particularly regarding acantholysis in patients without desmoglein antibodies.
- This necessitates identifying novel targets for pemphigus autoimmunity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel autoantigens in pemphigus vulgaris beyond desmogleins.
- To explore new antibody signatures for improved PV diagnosis and understanding of disease variability.
Main Methods:
- A multiplexed protein array platform was used, testing 264 pemphigus sera and 138 control sera against 701 human genes.
- Antigens were screened, focusing on keratinocyte cell-surface molecules and proteins targeted by organ-non-specific antibodies.
- Data was analyzed to identify antigens with high specificity to PV patients compared to controls.
Main Results:
- The study identified top antigens including DSC1, DSC3, ATP2C1, PKP3, CHRM3, COL21A1, ANXA8L1, CD88, and CHRNE.
- Highly specific PV autoantibodies targeted molecules like CD33, GP1BA, CHRND, and mitochondrial proteins.
- Combinations of autoantibodies against ATP2C1, C5a receptor, DSC1/DSC3, or HLA-DRA showed the highest specificity for PV.
Conclusions:
- Novel autoantibody targets in pemphigus vulgaris were identified.
- These new autoantibody signatures may serve as sensitive and specific biomarkers for diagnostic assays.
- Understanding these novel targets could explain individual differences in PV severity and treatment response.

