CLINICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL FEATURES OF AUTOIMMUNE PEMPHIGUS IN CLINICAL REMISSION
Autoimmune pemphigus is a group of autoimmune bullous diseases involving in pathological process of organs, coated or lined stratified squamous epithelium. The pathogenetic role in this disease belongs to specific autoantibodies directed against target antigens of desmosomal unit (intercellular binding substance) of the epidermis. Autoimmune pemphigus antibodies are detected in patients throughout the hole development of the pathological process. Circulating autoantibody and fixed immune complexes are detected in patients in clinical remission on the background of the maintenance dose of glucocorticosteroids. The question of what contributes to the maintenance of the autoimmune process remains still open. Using the direct and indirect immunofluorescence methods have studied 11 patients with autoimmune pemphigus in clinical remission. The results of immunological study of patients demonstrated antibody response polyclonality with the presence of a wide spectrum of autoantibodies. The study of target antigens demonstrated the presence of specific IgG-antibodies with a predominance of IgG4 directed mainly to antigens of desmosomal units of the epidermis basal layer. This indicate that there is the presence of a factor contributing to the constant production of autoantibodies in this structure of the epidermis.