Elucidation of the pathomechanism of anti-desmocollin antibodies in pemphigus

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K08762
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53050:Dermatology-related
• Research Institution: Kurume University
• Principal Investigator: Koga Hiroshi 久留米大学, 医学部, 講師 (40461412)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TEYE KWESI 久留米大学, 付置研究所, 助教 (30599303) ; 石井 文人 久留米大学, 医学部, 准教授 (80330827)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 天疱瘡 / 腫瘍随伴性天疱瘡 / デスモコリン / 自己抗体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study was conducted to analyze the epitopes of anti-desmocollin (Dsc)3 in sera from the patients with pemphigus using Dsc3/desmoglein (Dsg)2 homologous recombinant proteins which are able to analyze antigen-antibody interactions on conformational epitopes. In results, the majority of anti-Dsc3 antibodies recognized extracellular (EC) 2 domain only when it constructed the conformational epitopes in the presence of calcium ions. Further experiments revealed that the Dsc3 antibodies recognized conformational EC2 domain exerted a reduction of Dsc3 expression on the cell surface of keratinocyte and an attenuation of adhesion of keratinocytes. This study revealed the characters of anti-Dsc3 antibodies in pemphigus patients.

Free Research Field

自己免疫性水疱症

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

従来、天疱瘡の研究は検出頻度の高い、Dsg3抗体について行われてきた。一方で、我々が示すようにDsc3抗体も一部の天疱瘡患者で検出され、病態に関与していることが考えられる。このようにDsc抗体に着目した通常とは異なるアプローチで研究を促進することは天疱瘡の病態解明、さらにはその他の自己免疫性疾患の病態解明にとって有益であると考える。