Immunomapping of basement membrane zone macromolecules in canine salt-split skin

Certain macromolecules of human and canine cutaneous basement membrane zone (BMZ) have shown to have responsibilities for pathogenesis of mechanobullous skin diseases. Salt-split skin by 1 M NaCl have been used for diagnosis of human mechanobullous diseases. However, there have been no studies to characterize canine salt-split skin. Electron microscopy of canine salt-split skin showed the separation within lamina lucida. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed the roof of the cleft was labeled by human patient serum with bullous pemphigoid, whereas laminin, laminin 5, type IV and type VII collagen were labeled at the bottom of the cleft. It is suggested that immunomapping of salt-split skin may be useful for the differential diagnosis of canine mechanobullous diseases.