From Insect Bites to a Skin Autoimmune Disease: A Conceivable Pathway to Endemic Pemphigus Foliaceus

Ning Li; Valeria Aoki; Zhi Liu; Phillip Prisayanh; Jesus G. Valenzuela; Luis A. Diaz

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.907424

Frontiers in Immunology (May 2022)

From Insect Bites to a Skin Autoimmune Disease: A Conceivable Pathway to Endemic Pemphigus Foliaceus

Ning Li,
Valeria Aoki,
Zhi Liu,
Phillip Prisayanh,
Jesus G. Valenzuela,
Luis A. Diaz

Affiliations

Ning Li: Department of Dermatology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
Valeria Aoki: Department of Dermatology, Faculdade de Medicina Facultade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo (FMUSP), Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Zhi Liu: Department of Dermatology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
Phillip Prisayanh: Department of Dermatology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
Jesus G. Valenzuela: Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, United States
Luis A. Diaz: Department of Dermatology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.907424
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13

Abstract

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In the endemic variants of pemphigus foliaceus (PF), in Brazil and Tunisia, patients generate pathogenic IgG4 anti-desmoglein 1 autoantibodies. Additionally, these patients possess antibodies against salivary proteins from sand flies that react with Dsg1, which may lead to skin disease in susceptible individuals living in endemic areas. This minireview focuses on recent studies highlighting the possible role of salivary proteins from Lutzomyia longipalpis (L. longipalpis) in EPF from Brazil and Phlebotomus papatasi (P. papatasi) in EPF from Tunisia. We will briefly discuss the potential mechanisms of molecular mimicry and epitope spreading in the initiation and development of endemic PF (EPF) in Brazil and Tunisia.

Published in Frontiers in Immunology

ISSN: 1664-3224 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Immunologic diseases. Allergy
Website: http://journal.frontiersin.org/journal/immunology

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