080 Aged mice produce IgM autoantibodies against the basement membrane zone

Pemphigoid, a group of autoimmune bullous diseases including pemphigoid (BP) and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, is caused by autoantibodies against the basement membrane zone (BMZ). BP most common disease in elderly, suggesting that aging involved disruption immune tolerance to BMZ. However, details process are still not fully understood. To investigate effects on breakdown BMZ, we analyzed presence autoantibody deposition immunoglobulin isotypes (IgG/IgM) BMZ using mice aged 1.5 years or older, which correspond elderly human subjects. Direct immunofluorescence found approximately half had IgM very few IgG deposition. Indirect detected mice. Western blotting recombinant full-length murine type XVII collagen (Col17) as antigen showed bands at 180 kDa, anti-BP180-IgM sera We also co-localization VII (Col7) super-resolution microscopy. These results suggest may produce several proteins such Col17 Col7.