E-cadherin autoantibody profile in patients with pemphigus vulgaris

Summary Background Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune skin blistering disease. The main targets of autoantibodies are the desmosomal proteins desmoglein (Dsg)3 and Dsg1. Anti‐E‐cadherin antibody is the second most frequent antibody found in pemphigus foliaceus (fogo selvagem), but the frequency in PV is unknown. Objectives To determine the anti‐E‐cadherin antibody profile in the two major subtypes of PV: mucosal PV (mPV) and mucocutaneous PV (mcPV). Methods Sera from 80 patients with PV and 80 controls were tested. Patients with PV were subdivided into mPV (n = 18) and mcPV (n = 62). Samples were tested by E‐cadherin, Dsg1 and Dsg3 enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), and immunoprecipitation coupled with Western blotting (IP‐WB). Results Both mPV and mcPV sera have antibodies against E‐cadherin as demonstrated by ELISA and IP‐WB. Both subtypes of PV have low levels of anti‐E‐cadherin antibodies, but significantly higher levels than healthy controls by ELISA (P