Korean J Dermatol.  2006 Aug;44(8):942-949.

Possible Apoptotic Mechanisms in the Vesiculation Process of Pemphigus, Bullous Pemphigoid, and Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita

• Oh JG
• Kang JH
• Hwang SJ
• Whang KU
• Lee CW

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, may participate with pathogenesis of intercellular detachment and loss of cell-matrix interaction. Autoimmune bullous dermatoses is an entity charaterized by bullous lesions of the skin and mucosa, and autoantibodies to the specific tissue components.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the induction of apoptosis in the lesional skin of pemphigus vulgaris (PV), pemphigus foliaceus (PF), bullous pemphigoid (BP), and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA).
METHODS
Hoechst 33342 (bisbenzimide) staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining was performed to determine the induction of apoptosis in the lesional skin of each disease.
RESULTS
In PV and PF, typical findings of apoptosis were observed in the lesional epidermis showing acantholysis. However, in BP and EBA, no apoptosis of the epidermis was observed.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that apoptosis is only associated with acantholysis of the epidermal keratinocytes, one of many components of pathogenesis in bullous disease, in patients with pemphigus.

Keyword

Acantholysis; Apoptosis; Bullous pemphigoid; Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita; Pemphigus

MeSH Terms

Acantholysis
Apoptosis
Autoantibodies
Blister
Cell Death
Epidermis
Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita*
Epidermolysis Bullosa*
Humans
Keratinocytes
Mucous Membrane
Pemphigoid, Bullous*
Pemphigus*
Skin
Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous
Autoantibodies