Induction of blister-causing antibodies by a recombinant full-length, but not the extracellular, domain of the pemphigus vulgaris antigen (desmoglein 3).

O Memar, B Christensen, S Rajaraman… - … (Baltimore, Md.: 1950 …, 1996 - journals.aai.org
O Memar, B Christensen, S Rajaraman, R Goldblum, SK Tyring, MM Brysk, DJ McCormick…
Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md.: 1950), 1996journals.aai.org
Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is mediated by autoantibodies to desmoglein 3, the pemphigus
vulgaris antigen (PVA). PVA and an extracellular domain of PVA-Ig fusion protein (PV-Ig)
can completely adsorb the blister-causing Abs from PV patient sera, suggesting that the
extracellular segment of PVA might be sufficient to induce pathogenic Abs. To test this, we
immunized rabbits with either PVA or its extracellular domain (EPVA) expressed in insect
cells in our laboratory. When Igs were passively transferred from these rabbits into neonatal …
Abstract
Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is mediated by autoantibodies to desmoglein 3, the pemphigus vulgaris antigen (PVA). PVA and an extracellular domain of PVA-Ig fusion protein (PV-Ig) can completely adsorb the blister-causing Abs from PV patient sera, suggesting that the extracellular segment of PVA might be sufficient to induce pathogenic Abs. To test this, we immunized rabbits with either PVA or its extracellular domain (EPVA) expressed in insect cells in our laboratory. When Igs were passively transferred from these rabbits into neonatal mice, anti-PVA, but not the anti-EPVA, induced blisters. To understand the basis for their differential pathogenic effects, we examined the properties of these sera. Both sera showed comparable ELISA titers and indirect immunofluorescence reactivity against monkey esophagus, a source of native PVA. Moreover, EPVA, like PVA adsorbed blister-causing Abs from sera of PV patients and rabbits immunized with PVA. In contrast, when IgG preparations were incubated with fura-2-AM (acetyloxymethyl ester)-loaded human keratinocytes in culture, only IgG from anti-PVA serum induced intracellular calcium mobilization. These data showed that PVA but not EPVA can elicit Abs that induced blisters in neonatal mice and mediate intracellular signaling through calcium mobilization.
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