Changes in the expression of integrins and basement membrane proteins in benign mucous membrane pemphigoid.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the location of the subepithelial split in benign mucous membrane pemphigoid (BMMP) and its relationship to the anchoring filaments and their receptors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Frozen sections of lesional and perilesional oral mucosa from 10 cases of BMMP were stained, using an immunofluorescence method, for the beta-1, beta-4, alpha-3 and alpha-6 integrin subunits and for their ligands, laminin I and laminin V (kalinin). In all cases the diagnosis was confirmed by the demonstration of linear staining for IgG at the basement membrane zone. Six specimens of normal mucosa were stained for comparison.

RESULTS:

Staining for integrins, laminin and kalinin in perilesional mucosa was similar to normals, although one case showed loss of alpha-6 and beta-4 . In lesional mucosa, laminin and kalinin showed strong linear staining localised to the floor of the bullae. The alpha-6 and beta-4 subunits were expressed only on the roof of the bullae but staining was weak and patchy with areas of loss. In some sections alpha-6 showed a punctate intracellular distribution similar to IgG. The distribution of alpha-3 and beta-1 was similar to that seen in normals.

CONCLUSIONS:

In all cases kalinin was found on the connective tissue side of the lesions and alpha-6 beta-4 localised to the epithelial side. This shows that the split occurs at a location which separates anchoring filaments from the hemidesmosomes. Loss of the alpha-6 beta-4 integrin in the lesions and the similar intracellular staining of alpha-6 and IgG, suggest that disruption of hemidesmosomes may be a key event in the immunopathogenesis of the lesions and that the alpha-6 integrin subunit is a potential antigen in oral mucosal BMMP.

• Authors: J Jones, C S Downer, P M Speight
• Journal: Oral diseases (Oral Dis) Vol. 1 Issue 3 Pg. 159-65 (Sep 1995) ISSN: 1354-523X [Print] Denmark
• PMID: 8705822 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antigens, CD
• Cell Adhesion Molecules
• Immunoglobulin G
• Integrin alpha3beta1
• Integrin alpha6
• Integrin beta4
• Integrins
• Laminin
• Receptors, Immunologic
• Receptors, Laminin
• kalinin

Topics

• Actin Cytoskeleton (chemistry, immunology)
• Adult
• Aged
• Animals
• Antigens, CD (analysis)
• Basement Membrane (chemistry, immunology)
• Cell Adhesion
• Cell Adhesion Molecules (analysis)
• Desmosomes (chemistry)
• Female
• Fluorescent Antibody Technique
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin G (analysis)
• Integrin alpha3beta1
• Integrin alpha6
• Integrin beta4
• Integrins (analysis)
• Intercellular Junctions (chemistry, immunology)
• Laminin (analysis)
• Male
• Mice
• Middle Aged
• Mouth Mucosa (chemistry, immunology, pathology)
• Pemphigoid, Benign Mucous Membrane (immunology, metabolism, pathology)
• Rabbits
• Rats
• Receptors, Immunologic (analysis)
• Receptors, Laminin (analysis)