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Phylogenetic studies with pemphigus and pemphigoid antibodies
Acta Dermato-Venereologica
|January 1, 1978
Summary
Indirect immunofluorescence studies reveal pemphigoid antigen is widespread across vertebrate skin. Pemphigus antigen, however, is found only in avian and mammalian skin, indicating distinct evolutionary patterns.
Area of Science:
- Comparative immunology
- Dermatology
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Autoimmune blistering diseases like pemphigus and pemphigoid involve antibodies targeting skin components.
- Understanding the evolutionary distribution of these target antigens can provide insights into disease pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of pemphigoid and pemphigus antigens across different vertebrate classes.
- To compare the evolutionary distribution of antigens targeted in pemphigoid and pemphigus.
Main Methods:
- Indirect immunofluorescence (IF) was employed to detect antigens.
- Skin samples from diverse vertebrate species (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals) were analyzed.
- IgG fractions from human pemphigoid and pemphigus sera were used as primary antibodies.
Main Results:
- Pemphigoid antigen was detected in the skin of all tested vertebrate groups: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
- Pemphigus antigen was found exclusively in avian and mammalian skin samples.
- This suggests a broader evolutionary conservation of pemphigoid antigen compared to pemphigus antigen.
Conclusions:
- Pemphigoid antigen exhibits a wide evolutionary distribution, present in the skin of all major vertebrate classes.
- Pemphigus antigen has a more restricted distribution, found only in birds and mammals.
- These findings highlight differences in the evolutionary history and conservation of antigens targeted in these autoimmune skin diseases.