A simple epithelial cell line (MDCK) shows heterogeneity of desmoglein isoforms, one resembling pemphigus vulgaris antigen

Abstract

The epidermal blistering desease, pemphigus vulgaris (PV), with a cytoplasmic domain of human Dsg3. Antibodies in is caused by circulating autoantibodies that react with a PV sera bind to the surface of MDCK cells but do not cause desmosomal glycoprotein desmoglein (Dsg3). This antigen loss of intercellular adhesion. This is the first demonstrais expressed only in stratified epithelial tissues. Here we tion of the expression of a polypeptide related to human PV show that the simple epithelial canine kidney cell line, antigen by a simple epithelial cell type. MDCK, expresses at least two desmoglein isoforms recognised by different monoclonal antibodies. One of these isoforms is a 130×103 Mr polypeptide that is recognised by both PV autoantisera and a monoclonal antibody reactive.