Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF) are potentially fatal autoimmune skin blistering diseases. While PV is characterized by suprabasilar blisters and IgG autoantibodies against desmoglein 3 (Dsg3), PF is characterized by subcorneal blisters and autoantibodies to Dsg1. The pathogenicity of PV and PF autoantibodies has been demonstrated by IgG passive transfer mouse models. However, the mechanism by which PF and PV autoantibodies cause epidermal blistering is not fully understood. The overall goal of our study is to understand the mode of action of pemphigus autoantibodies in causing skin blistering in an effort to generate new knowledge that may be beneficial in the development of better therapies for these diseases. Our central hypothesis is that proteolysis is involved in the pathogenic cascade of pemphigus, and that matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) plays a critical role in the final stage of epidermal blister formation via proteolytic cleavage of key adhesive molecules of keratinocytes. This hypothesis is based on our novel observations that pharmacologic and genetic blockade of MMP2 protects mice against experimental pemphigus. We propose three specific aims to test our hypothesis.
Aim 1 is to extend our preliminary studies on the critical role of MMP2 in the induction of experimental pemphigus.
Aim 2 is to demonstrate the upregulation and activation of MMP2 in the skin of model mice and pemphigus patients.
Aim 3 is to investigate how MMP2 contributes to pemphigus blister formation. The findings from this proposal should significantly increase our understanding of the disease pathology and identify new therapeutic target for these diseases.

Public Health Relevance

Pemphigus is a group of life-threatening autoimmune blistering diseases characterized by pathogenic autoantibodies that target epidermal desmogleins and cause skin blisters. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying how pemphigus autoantibodies lead to skin injury are not fully elucidated. In this application, we propose to investigate the role of proteinases in pemphigus skin blistering. The findings from this study should increase our understanding of the disease pathology and may lead to development of new treatments for the disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01AR061372-01A1
Application #
8296974
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-MOSS-T (02))
Program Officer
Cibotti, Ricardo
Project Start
2012-06-01
Project End
2017-05-31
Budget Start
2012-06-01
Budget End
2013-05-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$292,769
Indirect Cost
$90,269
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Dermatology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
608195277
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
Evangelista, Flor; Roth, Aleeza J; Prisayanh, Phillip et al. (2018) Pathogenic IgG4 autoantibodies from endemic pemphigus foliaceus recognize a desmoglein-1 conformational epitope. J Autoimmun 89:171-185
Li, Ning; Park, Moonhee; Xiao, Shengxiang et al. (2017) ER-to-Golgi blockade of nascent desmosomal cadherins in SERCA2-inhibited keratinocytes: Implications for Darier's disease. Traffic 18:232-241
Zuo, Yagang; Evangelista, Flor; Culton, Donna et al. (2016) IgG4 autoantibodies are inhibitory in the autoimmune disease bullous pemphigoid. J Autoimmun 73:111-9
Culton, Donna A; McCray, Suzanne K; Park, Moonhee et al. (2015) Mucosal pemphigus vulgaris anti-Dsg3 IgG is pathogenic to the oral mucosa of humanized Dsg3 mice. J Invest Dermatol 135:1590-1597