Stimulation of autoantibody formation in pemphigoid due to proteolytic enzymes?
Remy, W.; Bockendahl, H.; Stüttgen, G.
Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift für Dermatologie Venerologie und verwandte Gebiete 27(7): 344-346
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0017-8470 PMID: 783086 Document Number: 107399
Following brief exposure of cryostat sections of human skin to proteolytic enzymes (papain or trypsin), there is an increase in the antibody binding capacity of the basement membrane zone for basement membrane zone antibodies of patients with bullous pemphigoid. In conjunction with findings published in the literature, our results indicate that activation of the basement membrane zone antigens by proteolytic enzymes is associated with an increase in antigenicity which results in the formation of auto-antibodies of the basement membrane zone antibody type.