Serum of patients with oral pemphigus vulgaris impairs keratinocyte wound repair in vitro: a time-lapse study on the efficacy of methylprednisolone and pyridostigmine bromide.
OBJECTIVE
Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune blistering disease affecting primarily oral mucosa and skin. Among the drugs used for the therapy of pemphigus, both methylprednisolone (MP) and pyridostigmine bromide (PBr) can prevent acantholysis in vitro. However, their putative therapeutic properties in regenerating PV-like lesions and promoting the healing process still remain to be demonstrated. To address this issue, here we have developed a model for studying the process of epithelial cleft regeneration in PV by artificially wounding keratinocyte monolayers.


METHODS
The experimental model was established by scratching confluent monolayers to simulate the epithelial cleft; then, wound regeneration in the presence of submaximal concentrations of PV sera was studied by time-lapse microscopy, with or without the addition of MP and PBr in the culture medium.


RESULTS
Pemphigus vulgaris serum inhibited epithelial cleft repair of wounded monolayers. Indeed, in the presence of 10% (v/v) PV serum, keratinocytes reached only 2% confluence within 72 h vs an almost complete healing of controls. When administered together with PV sera, MP significantly (P < 0.01) enhanced wound fill by 30% after 72 h. PV-associated wound repair was significantly (P < 0.05) ameliorated by PBr by 24 h and keratinocytes reached 20% confluence after 72 h. Interestingly, neither MP nor PBr could accelerate wound healing when compared with untreated control monolayers.


CONCLUSIONS
In PV, MP and PBr exert their curative effects in part by enhancing the regeneration properties of keratinocytes. Indeed, our data suggest that both drugs can specifically counterbalance the detrimental effects of PV serum on keratinocyte wound healing. These findings provide an explanation for the efficacy of MP and PBr in the treatment of PV lesions in human skin and oral mucosa.
Lanza
A
A
Regional Center on Craniofacial Malformations-MRI, II University of Naples, Naples 80138, Italy.
Stellavato
A
A
Heulfe
I
I
Landi
C
C
Gombos
F
F
Cirillo
N
N
D002460:Cell Line; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051184:Desmoglein 3 / Q000097:blood; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D018679:Cholinergic Agonists; C071894:DSG3 protein, human; D051184:Desmoglein 3; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide; D008775:Methylprednisolone