Related Experiment Videos
Complement fixation by Brazilian Pemphigus foliaceus autoantibodies
S Kawana1, L A Diaz, E A Rivitti
1Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Medical School, Houston 77030.
Clinical and Experimental Immunology
|March 1, 1988
Summary
Brazilian Pemphigus foliaceus (BPF) autoantibodies fix complement, similar to Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) autoantibodies. Both target skin cells, but BPF antibodies react with upper epidermis, while PV antibodies target lower layers.
Area of Science:
- Immunodermatology
- Autoimmune Blistering Diseases
Background:
- Pemphigus foliaceus (BPF) and Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) are autoimmune blistering diseases.
- The role of complement activation by BPF autoantibodies is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether Brazilian Pemphigus foliaceus (BPF) autoantibodies fix complement.
- To compare complement fixation patterns of BPF autoantibodies with those of Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) autoantibodies.
Main Methods:
- Indirect immunofluorescence (IF) staining on human skin sections and cultured epidermal cells.
- Complement IF staining (C1q, C4, C3) on skin sections and cultured keratinocytes.
Main Results:
- BPF autoantibodies localized to the upper epidermis, while PV autoantibodies targeted the lower epidermis.
- BPF autoantibodies fixed complement (C1q, C4, C3) in an intercellular pattern on skin and keratinocytes.
- BPF autoantibodies showed delayed reactivity (24h) compared to PV autoantibodies (18h) on cultured cells.
Conclusions:
- BPF autoantibodies are capable of fixing complement.
- Complement fixation by BPF autoantibodies occurs similarly to PV autoantibodies, despite targeting different epidermal antigens.