Molecular mapping of a pathogenically relevant BP180 epitope associated with experimentally induced murine bullous pemphigoid.

• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.155.11.5449
• Publication Date: 2022-12-31T12:19:38Z
• Authors: Z Liu; L A Diaz; S J Swartz; J L Troy; J A Fairley; G J Giudice
• Keywords: Immunofluorescence; Epitope mapping

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) and herpes gestationis (HG) are subepidermal blistering diseases associated with an autoimmune response directed against BP180, epidermal hemidesmosomal glycoprotein. The pathogenic relevance of this Ag/Ab system was established by the recent demonstration that IgG Abs reactive murine form BP180 (mBP180) capable triggering a disease after passive transfer into neonatal BALB/c mice. aim present study to determine fine specificity pathogenically relevant in experimental model BP. Four high titer rabbit-anti-mBP180 antisera were included analysis--only two which exhibited activity model. Immunoblot analysis using panel mBP180 deletion mutants revealed each four rabbit sera reacted at least three distinct sites on ectodomain; however, technique failed distinguish between reactivity patterns nonpathogenic sera. An alternative technique, liquid phase immunoadsorption analysis, used identify one antigenic site, comprising 9 12 amino acids designated mBP1, specifically recognized Pre-adsorption active preparations fusion proteins containing mBP1 site resulted complete blocking immunofluorescence basement membrane zone (BMZ) neutralization activity. Anti-BMZ displayed not altered or diminished pre-adsorption same recombinant protein. These findings should help elucidate immunopathologic mechanisms responsible for human BP HG may have significant implications diagnosis treatment these diseases.