Non-pathogenic anti-desmoglein 3 IgG autoantibodies in fogo selvagem

Abstract

The endemic form of pemphigus foliaceus, fogo selvagem, is caused by IgG autoantibodies directed against desmoglein 1 (Dsg1). Hilario-Vargas and his colleagues describe a high prevalence of IgG autoantibodies against Dsg3, the target antigen of pemphigus vulgaris, in a Brazilian population where fogo selvagem is endemic, although those patients do not develop any apparent clinical phenotype of pemphigus vulgaris. © 2006 The Society for Investigative Dermatology.