Anti-skin specific autoantibodies detected by a new immunofluorescence multiplex biochip method in patients with autoimmune bullous diseases.
BACKGROUND
Autoimmune blistering skin diseases are a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by autoantibodies against structural components of the skin. In pemphigus vulgaris (PV) autoantibodies react mainly with desmoglein 3 (Dsg3) alone and/or in combination with desmoglein 1 (Dsg1). In bullous pemphigoid (BP) autoantibodies target two hemidesmosomal proteins, BP180 and BP230.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a new indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) multiplex biochip method for the detection of anti-skin specific autoantibodies.


METHODS
Sera from 36 patients with PV and from 40 patients with BP were collected. The control group included 54 patients with other skin diseases and 40 healthy subjects. The detection of circulating autoantibodies to Dsg1, Dsg3, BP230 and BP180 was performed with a new IIF multiplex biochip method and with two currently commercially available ELISA methods.


RESULTS
The multiplex IIF method showed a high diagnostic sensitivity (100%) for PV on cells transfected with Dsg3. In patients with BP, the positivity to the BP180 antigen was higher (90%) than that on monkey esophagus (50%) and on cells transfected with BP230 (40%). A good rate of agreement was observed among methods (IIF vs. ELISA) and among ELISA systems.


CONCLUSIONS
The new multiplex biochip IIF method has a high diagnostic accuracy for the diagnosis of PV and BP, comparable to ELISA methods, and is able to screen autoimmune bullous diseases.
Laboratorio Patologia Clinica I, Policlinico di Bari, Bari, Italy. mtampoia@libero.it
Marilina
M
Tampoia
Antonietta
A
Zucano
Danilo
D
Villalta
Antonio
A
Antico
Nicola
N
Bizzaro
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051183:Desmoglein 1 / Q000276:immunology; D051184:Desmoglein 3 / Q000276:immunology; D000071821:Dystonin; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D046228:Microarray Analysis / Q000379:methods; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D024041:Non-Fibrillar Collagens / Q000276:immunology; D010391:Pemphigoid, Bullous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*; D000097805:Collagen Type XVII
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051183:Desmoglein 1; D051184:Desmoglein 3; D000071821:Dystonin; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D024041:Non-Fibrillar Collagens; D000097805:Collagen Type XVII; C495297:DSG1 protein, human; C071894:DSG3 protein, human; C486268:DST protein, human