title: Evidence for eosinophil degranulation in the pathogenesis of herpes gestationis.
abstract: Herpes gestationis is a pregnancy-related bullous dermatosis of unknown origin with associated tissue and peripheral blood eosinophilia. In this report, eosinophil degranulation in herpes gestationis was studied, and the role that the eosinophil may have as an effector cell that induces tissue damage through deposition of toxic cationic proteins is discussed. Using indirect immunofluorescence with antibody to human eosinophil granule major basic protein, major basic protein was observed both within tissue eosinophils and deposited extracellularly outside eosinophils in the dermis of eight patients with herpes gestationis. Possible mechanisms whereby eosinophils might be activated to degranulate in herpes gestationis are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Scheman
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Hordinsky
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Groth
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Vercellotti
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Leiferman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D006559:Pemphigoid Gestationis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012008:Recurrence; D012872:Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D003165:Complement System Proteins