Epidermal cell adhesion depends on the intercellular interactions of transmembrane
cadherin glycoproteins, which form the basis of adherens junctions and desmosomes.
Pemphigus is a blistering disease of the skin and mucous membranes characterized by
autoantibodies against the cell surface desmosomal cadherins, desmoglein (Dsg) 3 and
Dsg1. An unanswered question in pemphigus pathophysiology is the mechanism of
acantholysis, or loss of keratinocyte cell adhesion. One longstanding theory for pemphigus …