How is pemphigus vulgaris?

➢ Pemphigus vulgaris is a serious blistering disease that results from a loss of adhesion between keratinocytes. ➢ Loss of desmosomes results in loss of cohesion between keratinocytes in the epidermis, and a disruption of the barrier function served by intact skin ➢ It is an autoimmune disease caused by antibodies directed against desmosomes; )intercellular adhesion structure of epidermal keratinocytes). ➢ Blisters in pemphigus vulgaris are associated with the binding of IgG autoantibodies to keratinocyte cell surface molecules ➢ These intercellular or pemphigus vulgaris antibodies bind to keratinocyte desmosomes and to desmosome-free areas of the keratinocyte cell membrane ➢ The binding of autoantibodies results in a loss of cell-tocell adhesion, a process termed acantholysis. ➢ The antibody alone is capable of causing blistering without complement or inflammatory cells