cqvip:Background:Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is a chronic blistering skin dise ase frequently associated with circul atingautoantibodies directed to a number o f antigens including the NC16A region of BP180. NC16A domain-specific T cells h ave been identified in the blood of individuals with bullous pemphigoid (BP), pe mphigoid gestationis and linear IgA disease, but there are no data investigating the potential role for such T cells in the pathogenesis of MMP. Objectives:To test the hypothesis that NC16A-specific T cells exist in the peripheral blood o f individuals with MMP. Methods:We isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 10 patients with MMP, 17 with BP and 10 healthy controls and examined the i mmunogenicity of overlapping peptides spanning the NC16A domain using interferon (IFN)-γenzyme-linked immunospot assay. Results:Significant IFN-γproductio n was observed in response to the NC16A peptides in two of the patients with MMP and two of the patients with BP but in none of the normal controls. These data suggest that in a minority of individuals with MMP, NC16A domain-specific T cel ls circulate at sufficiently high frequency to be detectable directly ex vivo an d to show rapid effector function. Conclusions:Overall, these findings are the first to examine the potential role for antigen-specific autoreactive T cells i n the pathogenesis of MMP, and confirm that in some individuals the NC16A domain may be an important target antigen.
展开▼
