Associated TP12: Pathogenic potential of autoantibodies in anti-p200 pemphigoid

Anti-p200 pemphigoid is a subepidermal blistering disease which was first described in 1996 Recently, laminin g1 was identified as the target antigen of this disease and the C-terminus of laminin g1 as immunodominant region. These findings have then been confirmed by developing an ELISA using a recombinant laminin g1 protein for the diagnosis of this disease.  Our work explored the pathogenic effect of autoantibodies in anti-p200 pemphigoid. This work combines in vivo and ex vivo experimental models to investigate and understand the pathogenic relevance of autoantibodies against the most suspicious target antigen, laminin g1 in anti-p200 pemphigoid.

Results of this project have been published (PLoS One, 2012) and Katherina Vafia graduated in 2013. She is currently working as a PostDoc at the Max-Planck-Institute in Dresden.