Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Dermatology and Venerology

Background: Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune bullous disease that presents with oral and cutaneous blisters and erosions. The main autoantibodies are desmoglein (Dsg1) and (Dsg3). E-cadherin is a classic cadherin which mediates cell to cell adhesion via adherens junctions and desmosomes. Aim of work: To assess the tissue expression of E-cadherin in the skin and the serum soluble E-cadherin in PV patients before and after treatment compared to controls to assess its role in PV pathogenesis and severity. Methodology: Thirty seven patients with pemphigus vulgaris and thirty healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Each patient was subjected to medical history, clinical examination of the skin and mucous membranes, and PDAI scoring. Four mm skin biopsy was taken before starting treatment and after clinical remission and from controls for assessment of E- cadherin in the skin by immunofluorescence. Serum samples were collected from patients before treatment and after clinical remission and from controls for quantitative assessment of serum soluble E-cadherin levels by ELISA Results: Twenty four patients reached the end point of the study. Tissue E-cadherin presence and intensity were significantly reduced (P <0.001, <0.001) in patients compared to controls. Patients with intact tissue E- cadherin were significantly less in number compared to controls (P < 0.001). Detected E- cadherin showed basal and suprabasal distribution and cellular and cytoplasmic pattern of expression

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