The exfoliative toxins of Staphylococcus aureus are responsible for the staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, a blistering skin disorder that particularly affects infants and young children, as well as adults with underlying disease. Their three-dimensional structure is similar to other glutamate-specific trypsin-like serine proteases with two substrate-binding domains and a serine-histidine-as...

In mammalian pregnancy, the uterus is remodeled to become receptive to embryonic implantation. Since non-invasive placentation in marsupials is likely derived from invasive placentation, and is underpinned by intra-uterine conflict between mother and embryo, species with non-invasive placentation may employ a variety of molecular mechanisms to maintain an intact uterine epithelium and to preven...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE Lichen planus is a mucocutaneous disease which is relatively common and in 30-70% of patients, mucosal lesions can be seen and known as a precancerous lesion but its etiology is not completely understood. Desmogleins I and III are the main desmosomal transmembrane proteins. These proteins have been identified as the autoantigen of the autoimmune disease. The aim of this s...

Introduction: Pemphigus is an autoimmune blistering disease of skin and mucous membranes characterized by presence of IgG antibodies against desmoglein 3, and 1. Desmoglein 3 and 1 are presented in pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceous, respectively. Desmoglein are transmembrane proteins that form part of cellular junctions called desmosomes. Major histocompatibility complex class II mole...

Pemphigus vegetans is a rare variant of pemphigus vulgaris and is characterized by vegetating lesions in the inguinal folds and mouth and by the presence of autoantibodies against desmoglein 3. Two clinical subtypes of pemphigus vegetans exist, which are initially characterized by flaccid bullae and erosions (the Neumann subtype) or pustules (the Hallopeau subtype). Both subtypes subsequently d...

Immunoglobulin (Ig) G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a systemic, refractory, chronic inflammatory disease characterized by high serum IgG4 levels and histopathological findings of IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration and fibrosis.1,2 Although recent reports have documented cases of refractory chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) accompanied by IgG4 infiltration (IgG4-CRS),3e5 the underlying mechanism ...

Little is known about the function of desmosomes in the normal structure and function of hair. Therefore, it was surprising that mice without desmoglein 3 (the autoantigen in pemphigus vulgaris) not only developed mucous membrane and skin lesions like pemphigus patients, but also developed hair loss. Analysis of this phenotype indicated that hair was normal through the first growth phase ('foll...