Endemic pemphigus foliaceus: towards understanding autoimmune mechanisms of disease development

J Invest Dermatol. 2012 Nov;132(11):2499-502. doi: 10.1038/jid.2012.369.

Abstract

Fogo selvagem is an endemic form of pemphigus foliaceus (EPF) found in Brazil. Environmental and genetic factors are thought to contribute to the disease, which is associated with pathogenic IgG4 autoantibodies against the desmosomal cadherin desmoglein 1. In this issue, as an additional framework to understand autoimmune mechanisms in EPF, Flores et al. have investigated whether fogo selvagem patients and healthy individuals from endemic areas develop autoantibody responses against other desmosomal cadherins and E-cadherin.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Autoantibodies / immunology*
  • Desmosomal Cadherins / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology*
  • Keratinocytes / immunology*
  • Pemphigus / immunology*

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Desmosomal Cadherins
  • Immunoglobulin G

Supplementary concepts

  • Pemphigus and fogo selvagem