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Updated: Jun 14, 2025
A Rapid, Scalable Method for the Isolation, Functional Study, and Analysis of Cell-derived Extracellular Matrix
Published on: January 4, 2017
Isolation and analysis of the exosomal membrane proteins in bullous pemphigoid
Yangchun Liu1, Jialing Zhang1, Bingjie Zhang1
1Department of Dermatology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases, Beijing, China.
Background:
Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a severe autoimmune sub-epidermal bullous disease. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles secreted by most cell types. The exosomal membrane proteins are implicated in various biological and pathological pathways. This study aims to explore the potential roles of exosomes in BP pathomechanism.
Research Design:
We collected plasma samples from 30 BP patients and 31 healthy controls. Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) was used to analyze the size and concentration of exosomes. The immunogold labelling experiment and extracellular vesicle (EV) array were performed to detect the content and distribution of exosomes.
Results:
The exosomes from both the BP and control groups' plasma were successfully extracted. EV Array showed that CD63 and CD9 levels were significantly higher in the BP group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Expression levels of the BP180 NC16A and intracellular domain (ICD) were higher in the anti-BP180 positive group versus the controls (p < 0.05). The active BP group exhibits higher CD63 and BP180 ICD protein concentrations than the control or inactive BP groups (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
BP180 autoantigen fragments were expressed on the exosomal membrane in BP patients. The BP180 ICD and CD63 on exosomes could potentially be novel biomarkers for monitoring disease activity.
