Antinuclear antibody-keratinocyte interactions in photosensitive cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
Autoimmune diseases are characterized by various circulating autoantibodies, especially antinuclear antibodies (ANA). It has been a long-standing issue as to whether and/or how ANA interact with epidermal cells to produce skin lesions. Of these ANA, the anti-SS-A/Ro antibody is the most closely associated with photosensitivity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its subgroups, including subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) and neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE). SS-A/Ro antigens are present in the nucleus and cytoplasm, and interestingly, ultraviolet B (UVB) light translocates these antigens to the surface of the cultured keratinocytes. Thus, anti-SS-A/Ro antibodies in the sera can bind to the relevant antigens expressed on the UVB-irradiated keratinocyte surface, and have been speculated to be an important inducer of antibody-dependent keratinocyte damage. This interaction between the anti-SS-A/Ro antibodies and UVB-irradiated keratinocytes may induce the skin lesions through a cytotoxic mechanism. This review will focus on the involvement of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in the pathogenesis of the skin lesions observed in photosensitive cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
Furukawa
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Department of Dermatology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan. fukufuku@hama-med.ac.jp
D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001324:Autoantigens