Autoimmune Bullous Diseases

In autoimmune bullous diseases, antibodies against epidermal antigens damage the epi-dermis, resulting in bullous formation. Auto-immune bullous diseases are divided into two groups: the pemphigus group with antibodies against substances between epidermal cells, and the pemphigoid group with antibodies against epidermal basement membrane. Desmosome and hemidesmosome are con-sidered to play important roles in the adhesion of epidermal cells. Recent molecular-biological studies have shown that the antigens of all auto-immune bullous diseases are the components of desmosome and hemidesmosome. Figures