Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Dermatology

Background: BP is an autoimmune bullous skin disease primarily occurring in the elderly and characterized by tense bullae which appear on erythematous or apparently normal skin due to tissue-bound and circulating autoantibodies directed against structural components of the hemidesmosomes. AQP3 is a glycerol water channel that is not only involved in water transport and hydration in the human epidermis but also in the regulation of keratinocyte proliferation, differentiation, cell migration, and tumorigenesis. Aim of work: The current study aimed at examination of AQP3 pattern and expression in bullous pemphigoid patients compared to controls using immunofluorescence. This was to asses if AQP3 can have a possible role in the pathogenesis of BP and if it can be a future therapeutic target. Patients and methods: This study included twenty four patients with bullous pemphigoid and thirteen controls. Each patient was subjected to short medical history, clinical examination of the skin and mucous membranes and BPDAI scoring. Indirect immunofluorescence of salt split skin was done to confirm the diagnosis. Skin biopsies from the perilesional skin were taken and direct immunofluorescence study using anti aquaporin 3 antibodies was done for all the subjects

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