Superficial Dsg2 Expression Limits Epidermal Blister Formation Mediated by Pemphigus Foliaceus Antibodies and Exfoliative Toxins
Figure 4
Dsg2 offers protection against PF Ig-induced acantholysis. (a) Newborn WT and Inv-Dsg2 Tg mice were injected subcutaneously with 10 mg of purified PF Ig for 18 hours. Gross blisters were more pronounced in WT mice, as compared to Tg mice. (b) Mice were sacrificed, and their skin was processed for histology, revealing more dramatic blisters in the WT () than in Tg mice (). Top panels show 3X magnification, and lower panels show 40X magnification of the site of blister formation (arrows). (c) The extent of blistering was graded as described in Figure 2. Each dot represents one animal. The average blister scores were 4.0 ± 0.0 for WT mice and 2.1 ± 0.7 for Tg mice. These values were statistically significant, ≤ .000022 (2-tailed unequal variance) or ≤ .000012 (1-tailed unequal variance). (d) Back skin biopsies of WT and Tg mice treated with PF Ig were homogenized in Laemmli buffer, the proteins were resolved with SDS-PAGE and immunoblotted for Dsg1 (27B2), Dsg2, and Actin. Western blotting demonstrates that superficial Dsg2 slightly enhances retention of Dsg1 in response to PF Ig.
