Publicaciones científicas

Pemphigus vulgaris autoantibodies induce apoptosis in HaCaT keratinocytes

21-may-2004 | Revista: FEBS letters

Pelacho B, Natal C, España A, Sánchez-Carpintero I, Iraburu MJ, López-Zabalza MJ.


Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune disease characterized by binding of IgG autoantibodies to epidermal keratinocyte desmosomes. IgG autoantibodies obtained from a patient with mucocutaneous PV reacted with plakoglobin (Plkg) in addition to desmoglein-3 (Dsg3) and Dsg1.

Immunofluorescence analysis confirmed that IgG autoantibodies, unlike antibodies from a healthy volunteer, caused disruption of cell-cell contacts in HaCaT keratinocytes. Moreover, apoptosis was enhanced in cells treated with autoantibodies compared to those treated with normal antibodies.

The apoptotic process induced by IgG autoantibodies was characterized by caspase-3 activation, Bcl-2 depletion and Bax expression. The present report demonstrates that PV IgG autoantibodies promote apoptosis in HaCaT keratinocytes.

CITA DEL ARTÍCULO  FEBS Lett. 2004 May 21;566(1-3):6-10