title: Long-term interferon-alpha therapy induces autoantibodies against epidermis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While interferon (IFN) is known for its immunoregulatory properties, it has also been shown to induce autoimmune disorders such as lupus erythematosus, hypothyroidism, antiphospholipid syndrome and, recently, bullous pemphigus-like eruptions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the percentage of antibodies against epidermis induced by IFN-alpha therapy, as detected by indirect immunofluorescence and Western blotting (WB).
  
  
  METHODS
  We have studied the sera of 47 patients treated with low doses of IFN-alpha 2a for malignant melanoma or cutaneous T cell lymphoma for a period of 12 months. These sera were tested by standard IIF and WB.
  
  
  RESULTS
  32% of patient sera were positive after 6 months of treatment. Antibodies against epidermis were most often of the pemphigus type as confirmed by WB. Two types of labeling were noted for anti-basement membrane antibodies: basal cytoplasmic pattern in 4 sera and along the dermal side of the basal keratinocytes in 2 sera.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study brings biological arguments to confirm the direct role of IFN-alpha in the development of pemphigus-like eruption, and emphasizes the need for clinical follow-up of patients treated with IFN-alpha over a long period of time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hotel-Dieu, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fleischmann
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Celerier
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Litoux
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dreno
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004817:Epidermis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D016898:Interferon-alpha