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Mee JB. Diagnostic Techniques in Autoimmune Blistering Diseases. Br J Biomed Sci 2023; 80:11809. [PMID: 38074463 PMCID: PMC10704243 DOI: 10.3389/bjbs.2023.11809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Autoimmune blistering diseases (AIBD) comprise a heterogeneous group of uncommon disorders of the skin and mucous membranes, characterised by antibodies targeting structural proteins within epithelial tissue and the underlying basement membrane. There can be significant overlap in clinical presentation of these diseases and accurate diagnosis relies on the detection and characterisation of relevant autoantibodies. Immunofluorescence provides the gold-standard diagnostic tool for these diseases, identifying both tissue-bound autoantibodies in biopsy material using direct immunofluorescence and circulating antibodies in serum through indirect immunofluorescence. Following advances in the identification and subsequent characterisation of numerous antigenic targets in these diseases, the development of antigen-specific tests, in particular, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays on serum specimens, has provided a third key tool to not only identify, but also quantify AIBD autoantibodies. This quantification has proven particularly useful in monitoring disease activity and informing clinical management decisions. Accurate diagnosis of these diseases is important since optimal treatment strategies differ between them and, prognostically, some diagnoses are associated with an increased risk of malignancy. This review outlines the molecular pathology underlying the major AIBD and describes how the three principal techniques can be used in combination, to provide best practice for diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- John B. Mee
- Immunodermatology Laboratory, St John’s Institute of Dermatology, Synnovis Analytics, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
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2
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Emtenani S, Holtsche MM, Stahlkopf R, Seiler DL, Burn T, Liu H, Parker M, Yilmaz K, Dikmen HO, Lang MH, Sadik CD, Karsten CM, van Beek N, Ludwig RJ, Köhl J, Schmidt E. Differential expression of C5aR1 and C5aR2 in innate and adaptive immune cells located in early skin lesions of bullous pemphigoid patients. Front Immunol 2022; 13:942493. [PMID: 36466856 PMCID: PMC9716273 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.942493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Bullous pemphigoid (BP), the by far most frequent autoimmune subepidermal blistering disorder (AIBD), is characterized by the deposition of autoantibodies against BP180 (type XVII collagen; Col17) and BP230 as well as complement components at the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ). The mechanisms of complement activation in BP patients, including the generation of C5a and regulation of its two cognate C5aRs, i.e., C5aR1 and C5aR2, are incompletely understood. In this study, transcriptome analysis of perilesional and non-lesional skin biopsies of BP patients compared to site-, age-, and sex-matched controls showed an upregulated expression of C5AR1, C5AR2, CR1, and C3AR1 and other complement-associated genes in perilesional BP skin. Of note, increased expressions of C5AR2 and C3AR1 were also observed in non-lesional BP skin. Subsequently, double immunofluorescence (IF) staining revealed T cells and macrophages as the dominant cellular sources of C5aR1 in early lesions of BP patients, while C5aR2 mainly expressed on mast cells and eosinophils. In addition, systemic levels of various complement factors and associated molecules were measured in BP patients and controls. Significantly higher plasma levels of C3a, CD55, and mannose-binding lectin-pathway activity were found in BP patients compared to controls. Finally, the functional relevance of C5aR1 and C5aR2 in BP was explored by two in vitro assays. Specific inhibition of C5aR1, resulted in significantly reduced migration of human neutrophils toward the chemoattractant C5a, whereas stimulation of C5aR2 showed no effect. In contrast, the selective targeting of C5aR1 and/or C5aR2 had no effect on the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from Col17-anti-Col17 IgG immune complex-stimulated human leukocytes. Collectively, this study delineates a complex landscape of activated complement receptors, complement factors, and related molecules in early BP skin lesions. Our results corroborate findings in mouse models of pemphigoid diseases that the C5a/C5aR1 axis is pivotal for attracting inflammatory cells to the skin and substantiate our understanding of the C5a/C5aR1 axis in human BP. The broad expression of C5aRs on multiple cell types critical for BP pathogenesis call for clinical studies targeting this axis in BP and other complement-mediated AIBDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirin Emtenani
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology (LIED), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Maike M. Holtsche
- Department of Dermatology, Allergy, and Venereology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Richard Stahlkopf
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology (LIED), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Daniel L. Seiler
- Institute for Systemic Inflammation Research (ISEF), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Timothy Burn
- Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Huiqing Liu
- Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Melissa Parker
- Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Kaan Yilmaz
- Department of Dermatology, Allergy, and Venereology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Hasan O. Dikmen
- Department of Dermatology, Allergy, and Venereology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Markus Huber Lang
- Institute of Experimental Trauma-Immunology, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christian D. Sadik
- Department of Dermatology, Allergy, and Venereology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Christian M. Karsten
- Institute for Systemic Inflammation Research (ISEF), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Nina van Beek
- Department of Dermatology, Allergy, and Venereology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Ralf J. Ludwig
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology (LIED), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Department of Dermatology, Allergy, and Venereology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Jörg Köhl
- Institute for Systemic Inflammation Research (ISEF), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Centre, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Enno Schmidt
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology (LIED), University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Department of Dermatology, Allergy, and Venereology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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Boch K, Hammers CM, Goletz S, Kamaguchi M, Ludwig RJ, Schneider SW, Zillikens D, Hadaschik E, Schmidt E. Immunoglobulin M pemphigoid. J Am Acad Dermatol 2021; 85:1486-1492. [PMID: 33453342 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2021.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pemphigoid diseases are a heterogeneous group of autoimmune blistering disorders characterized by predominant deposition of immunoglobulin G or immunoglobulin A autoantibodies against structural proteins of the dermoepidermal junction (DEJ). Sole linear immunoglobulin M (IgM) deposits at the DEJ in pemphigoid diseases have been observed; however, IgM-specific target antigens have not been identified. OBJECTIVE Characterization of patients with IgM pemphigoid. METHODS Skin biopsy specimens and sera from IgM-positive patients were assessed using histopathology, direct and indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, immunoblotting, cryosection assay, complement fixation test, and internalization assays. RESULTS Tissue-bound linear IgM deposits along the DEJ and circulating IgM autoantibodies against type XVII collagen (Col17) were detected. These circulating IgM autoantibodies showed no complement activating or blister inducing capacity, but the ability of Col17 internalization ex vivo. LIMITATIONS Limited number of patients. CONCLUSION This study provides further evidence for the role of IgM autoantibodies in pemphigoid disease and highlights Col17 as a target antigen in IgM pemphigoid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Boch
- Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Christoph M Hammers
- Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany; Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Stephanie Goletz
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Mayumi Kamaguchi
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Ralf J Ludwig
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Stefan W Schneider
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Detlef Zillikens
- Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Eva Hadaschik
- Department of Dermatology, University of Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Enno Schmidt
- Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany; Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
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Wang LL, Moshiri AS, Novoa R, Simpson CL, Takeshita J, Payne AS, Chu EY. Comparison of C3d immunohistochemical staining to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence for diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid. J Am Acad Dermatol 2020; 83:172-178. [PMID: 32068042 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bullous pemphigoid (BP), the most common autoimmune blistering disease, may be diagnostically challenging. Direct immunofluorescence (DIF), indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and recently, C3d immunohistochemistry (IHC), are used as adjuncts to diagnosis. OBJECTIVE To compare C3d IHC to DIF, IIF, and ELISA testing in BP diagnosis. METHODS C3d IHC was performed on skin biopsy specimens from 51 patients (27 with BP and 24 with other blistering diseases) and compared to DIF and IIF, with anti-BP180 or anti-BP230 ELISA results used as the gold standard. RESULTS We found C3d IHC, DIF, and IIF had similar sensitivity (74.1%, 63.1%, and 70.4%), specificity (95.8%, 100%, and 100%), positive predictive value (95.2%, 100%, and 100%), and negative predictive value (76.7%, 70.6%, and 75%) for BP. Cases with positive C3d IHC, DIF, and IIF had significantly higher anti-BP180 and anti-BP230 by ELISA than cases with negative testing (P < .0001). False-negative IIF results were associated with lower BP230 compared with true-positive results (P = .03). LIMITATIONS This was a single-center, retrospective study. CONCLUSION Our study compared C3d IHC to DIF and IIF in BP diagnosis, demonstrating C3d IHC on fixed tissue provides similar diagnostic utility to immunofluorescence and ELISA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo L Wang
- Department of Dermatology, the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ata S Moshiri
- Division of Dermatology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Roberto Novoa
- Department of Pathology and Dermatology, Stanford University, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Stanford, California
| | - Cory L Simpson
- Department of Dermatology, the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Junko Takeshita
- Department of Dermatology, the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Biostatistics Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Aimee S Payne
- Department of Dermatology, the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Emily Y Chu
- Department of Dermatology, the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Hübner F, Langan EA, Recke A. Lichen Planus Pemphigoides: From Lichenoid Inflammation to Autoantibody-Mediated Blistering. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1389. [PMID: 31312198 PMCID: PMC6614382 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Lichen planus pemphigoides (LPP) is a very rare autoimmune sub-epidermal blistering disease associated with lichenoid skin changes. Initially thought to be a mere variant of more common inflammatory dermatoses, particularly Bullous Pemphigoid (BP) or Lichen Planus (LP), a growing body of evidence suggests that it is a disease entity in its own right. In common with a range of autoimmune blistering diseases, including BP, pemphigoid gestationis (PG), mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) and linear IgA dermatosis (LAD), a key feature of the disease is the development of autoantibodies against type XVII collagen (COL17). However, accurately establishing the diagnosis is dependent on a careful correlation between the clinical, histological and immunological features of the disease. Therefore, we present an up to date summary of the epidemiology and etiopathogenesis of LPP, before illustrating the predisposing and precipitating factors implicated in the development of the disease. In addition to a selective literature search, we compare reports of potential drug-induced cases of LPP with pharmacovigilance data available via OpenVigil. We subsequently outline the cardinal clinical features, important differential diagnoses and current treatment options. We conclude by demonstrating that an improved understanding of LPP may not only lead to the development of novel treatment strategies for the disease itself, but may also shed new light on the pathophysiology of more common and treatment-refractory autoimmune blistering diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Hübner
- Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Ewan A. Langan
- Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Dermatological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Recke
- Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Lübeck Institute of Dermatological Research, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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Yamagami J. Reorganization of serum analysis tools for the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid. Br J Dermatol 2019; 180:980-981. [PMID: 31025727 DOI: 10.1111/bjd.17724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- J Yamagami
- Department of Dermatology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
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Kamaguchi M, Iwata H. The Diagnosis and Blistering Mechanisms of Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid. Front Immunol 2019; 10:34. [PMID: 30740099 PMCID: PMC6357922 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is a mucous membrane-dominated autoimmune subepithelial blistering disease that is caused by autoantibodies against various autoantigens in basement membrane zone (BMZ) proteins, including collagen XVII (COL17). Clinicians face diagnostic problems in detecting circulating antibodies and targeted antigens in MMP. The diagnostic difficulties are mainly attributed to the low titers of MMP autoantibodies in sera and to heterogeneous autoantigens. Additionally, no unanimous diagnostic criteria have been drawn for MMP, which can result in delayed diagnoses or misdiagnoses. This review aims to integrate and present currently available data to clarify diagnostic strategies and to present diagnostic criteria for MMP. The ultimate blistering mechanism in MMP has not been elucidated, and such mechanism is especially obscure in COL17-type MMP. In bullous pemphigoid (BP), which is the most common autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease, some patients show oral lesion as well as predominant skin lesions. However, there is no fundamental explanation for the onset of oral lesions in BP. This article summarizes innovative research perspectives on the pathogenesis of oral lesions in pemphigoid. Finally, we propose a potential pathogenesis for COL17-type MMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayumi Kamaguchi
- Department of Dermatology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.,Department of Oral Diagnosis and Medicine, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Iwata
- Department of Dermatology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
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