title: IgG autoantibodies to type VII collagen and an exclusive IgG3 reactivity to the laminin alpha3 chain in a patient with an autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease.
abstract: We describe a patient with widespread skin lesions and circulating IgG autoantibodies to both type VII collagen and laminin 5. Although autoantibodies to type VII collagen belonged to IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 subclasses, laminin 5 was targeted exclusively by IgG3 autoantibodies. Interestingly, despite the presence of IgG3 autoantibodies, the patient's serum failed to fix complement to the dermoepidermal junction. In addition, these autoantibodies did not recruit and activate leukocytes or induce dermoepidermal separation in skin sectioned by cryostat. We report a most unusual case of an autoimmune subepidermal blistering with an exclusive IgG3 reactivity to laminin 5.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baican
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirako
authors.forename: Zelmira
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lazarova
authors.forename: Kim B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Yancey
authors.forename: Detlef
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zillikens
authors.forename: Cassian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sitaru
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001768:Blister / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000276:immunology; D024143:Collagen Type VII / Q000276:immunology*; D004890:Erythema / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D007797:Laminin / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D000097794:Kalinin
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D024143:Collagen Type VII; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007797:Laminin; D000097794:Kalinin; C095567:laminin alpha 3