IgE in the serum and on mast cells in bullous pemphigoid

Abstract

In 25 patients with bullous pemphigoid, the presence of IgE on the epidermal basement membrane (BM) and the cell membrane of mast cells was investigated by immunofluorescence microscopy. In four cases, a linear staining of the BM was found. Strongly positive fluorescence of the mast cells was found in seven cases; in seven others there was weakly positive staining. The positive staining of mast cells seemed to be related to the serum IgE level. The IgE levels in the serum samples of 30 patients were determined by the immunoradiometric assay. In 11 cases, elevated levels (greater than 400 IU/mL) were found. Circulating IgE anti-BM antibodies could be demonstrated in one of 15 serum samples by indirect immunofluorescence. Our results do not indicate that IgE-mediated mechanisms play an important role in the pathogenesis of bullous pemphigoid.

IgE autoantibodies and their association with the disease activity and phenotype in bullous pemphigoid: a systematic review

“…Two years later, a study of tissue eosinophilia in BP lesions of four patients showed eosinophil chemotactic activity in the infiltrate [ 5 ]; furthermore, the serum of half of the subjects tested positive for IgE autoantibodies to skin BM. In 1980, a similar study reported that 11 of 25 BP patients had elevated serum IgE levels, and 15 of them tested positive for serum IgE anti-BM autoantibodies by indirect immunofluorescence [ 44 ]. A study in 1983 on 28 BP patients found 50% to have peripheral blood eosinophilia; the authors proposed that BP should be considered in the differential diagnosis of skin bullous conditions with peripheral blood eosinophilia [ 8 ].…”

Research progress of omalizumab in the treatment of bullous pemphigoid

“…For decades, studies on the pathogenesis of autoantibodies in BP have focused mainly on IgG, despite the microscopic discovery of IgE in the basement membrane zone (BMZ) of lesioned skin 13 . In recent years, the number of studies on the pathogenic mechanism of IgE in BP has been increasing 14–20 …”

“…13 In recent years, the number of studies on the pathogenic mechanism of IgE in BP has been increasing. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20] Several studies have shown that the percentage of patients with BP who have elevated total serum IgE levels is 70%-85%. [14][15][16] In 1974, Arbesman et al 17 first suggested that patients with BP have high levels of IgE, and in 1984, Asbrink et al 14 suggested that high levels of IgE serum are positively correlated with disease activity.…”

“…[14][15][16][17][18][19][20] Several studies have shown that the percentage of patients with BP who have elevated total serum IgE levels is 70%-85%. [14][15][16] In 1974, Arbesman et al 17 first suggested that patients with BP have high levels of IgE, and in 1984, Asbrink et al 14 suggested that high levels of IgE serum are positively correlated with disease activity. Yay et al 18 found that patients with IgE deposition in vivo had more severe urticarial lesions than IgE-negative patients.…”