title: E-cadherin autoantibody profile in patients with pemphigus vulgaris.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune skin blistering disease. The main targets of autoantibodies are the desmosomal proteins desmoglein (Dsg)3 and Dsg1. Anti-E-cadherin antibody is the second most frequent antibody found in pemphigus foliaceus (fogo selvagem), but the frequency in PV is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the anti-E-cadherin antibody profile in the two major subtypes of PV: mucosal PV (mPV) and mucocutaneous PV (mcPV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sera from 80 patients with PV and 80 controls were tested. Patients with PV were subdivided into mPV (n = 18) and mcPV (n = 62). Samples were tested by E-cadherin, Dsg1 and Dsg3 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), and immunoprecipitation coupled with Western blotting (IP-WB).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both mPV and mcPV sera have antibodies against E-cadherin as demonstrated by ELISA and IP-WB. Both subtypes of PV have low levels of anti-E-cadherin antibodies, but significantly higher levels than healthy controls by ELISA (P < 0·0001). No difference exists in antibody levels between subgroups (P = 0·82). By IP-WB, 78% of mcPV sera reacted to E-cadherin, vs. 33% of mPV sera tested. Correlation analysis suggests a moderate correlation between anti-E-cadherin antibodies and Dsg1 antibodies (average r = 0·61), but no correlation with Dsg3 antibodies (average r = 0·19). Patients with mPV can have lower levels of Dsg1 antibodies compared with controls by ELISA (P < 0·0001). A few mPV sera also reacted to Dsg1 protein by IP-WB (17%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anti-E-cadherin antibodies are present in both major subtypes of PV. A moderate correlation exists between E-cadherin and Dsg1 antibodies. Patients with mPV can have low levels of both E-cadherin and Dsg1 antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, U.S.A; Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, U.S.A.
authors.forename: M E F
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Culton
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prisayanh
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Qaqish
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Diaz
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015820:Cadherins / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D051183:Desmoglein 1 / Q000276:immunology; D051184:Desmoglein 3 / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015820:Cadherins; D051183:Desmoglein 1; D051184:Desmoglein 3; D007074:Immunoglobulin G