title: Ribosomal protein s6-ps240 is expressed in lesional skin from patients with autoimmune skin blistering diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The in situ signaling transduction within skin biopsies from patients affected by autoimmune skin blistering diseases is not well-characterized.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In autoimmune skin blistering diseases, autoantibodies seem to trigger several intracellular signaling pathways and we investigated the presence of the phosphorylated form of ribosomal protein S6-pS240 within autoimmune skin blistering diseases biopsies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We utilized immunohistochemistry to evaluate the presence of S6-pS240 in lesional skin biopsies of patients affected by autoimmune skin blistering diseases including patients with an endemic and nonendemic pemphigus foliaceus (non EPF), with bullous pemphigoid (BP), pemphigus vulgaris (PV), dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), and the respective controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most autoimmune bullous skin diseases biopsies stained positive for S6-pS240 around lesional blisters, including adjacent areas of the epidermis; and within upper dermal inflammatory infiltrates, and/or mesenchymal-endothelial cell junctions within the dermis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We document that S6-pS240 is expressed in lesional areas of skin biopsies from patients with autoimmune skin blistering diseases, as well as on eccrine glands and piloerector muscles. Thus, the role of this molecule in autoimmune skin blistering diseases warrants further study.
authors.affiliation: Georgia Dermatopathology Associates, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abreu-Velez
authors.affiliation: Knoxville Dermatopathology Laboratory, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Googe
authors.affiliation: Georgia Dermatopathology Associates, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Howard
keywords: Autoimmune skin blistering diseases; Bullous pemphigoid; Dermatitis herpetiformis; Endemic pemphigus foliaceus; Intracellular signaling pathways; Pemphigus; Ribosomal protein S6-pS240