Evaluation of the combination of BP180-NC16a enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and BP230 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid.
BACKGROUND
Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an acquired autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease characterized by circulating IgG autoantibodies directed against BP180 and BP230 hemidesmosomal proteins. Previous studies have demonstrated that antibodies against the NC16a domain of BP180 mediate BP pathogenesis, while antibodies against BP230 enhance the inflammatory response. Recently, commercial BP180-NC16a enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and BP230 ELISA kits were developed to detect anti-BP180 and anti-BP230 autoantibodies in human BP sera.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of BP180-NC16a ELISA and BP230 ELISA in the initial diagnosis of BP.


METHODS
Sera from 62 BP patients and 62 control subjects were tested by BP180-NC16a ELISA and BP230 ELISA and compared with findings from indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and immunoblotting (IB) to determine the sensitivity and specificity of these assays.


RESULTS
The sensitivities of BP180-NC16a ELISA and BP230 ELISA were 87.1% (54/62) and 56.5% (35/62), respectively, and the specificities of both were 100% (62/62). Using both ELISAs for diagnosis increased the sensitivity to 95.2% (59/62) and was statistically comparable with IB sensitivity.


CONCLUSIONS
ELISA is a convenient, effective, and reliable method for serodiagnosis of BP, and combined use of BP180-NC16a ELISA and BP230 ELISA can increase the sensitivity of this diagnostic approach.
Department of Dermatology, Shandong Provincial Institute of Dermatology and Venereology, Shandong Provincial Academy of Medical Science; Shandong Provincial Hospital for Skin Diseases, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
Baoqi
B
Yang
Chong
C
Wang
Shengli
S
Chen
Xuechao
X
Chen
Xianmei
X
Lu
Hongqing
H
Tian
Meiling
M
Yu
Dizhan
D
Zhang
Zhongxiang
Z
Shi
Guizhi
G
Zhou
Furen
F
Zhang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D000071821:Dystonin; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D024041:Non-Fibrillar Collagens / Q000276:immunology*; D010391:Pemphigoid, Bullous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult; D000097805:Collagen Type XVII
D000906:Antibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D000071821:Dystonin; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D024041:Non-Fibrillar Collagens; D000097805:Collagen Type XVII; C486268:DST protein, human