Three desmoglein isoforms collaborate with desmocollins to build the adhesive core of desmosomes. A recent study has shown that altering the ratio of desmoglein isoforms influences epidermal barrier function, suggesting distinct roles for these cadherins that extend beyond adhesion.

The importance of desmosomal cell adhesion to human health is evidenced by the autoimmune disease pemphigus vulgaris (PV), in which autoantibodies against the extracellular domain of the desmosomal cadherin desmoglein 3 cause potentially fatal blistering of the skin and mucous membranes. Tucker et al. describe how enhanced expression of a desmosomal cytoplasmic plaque protein, plakophilin-1, pr...

Desmosomes are intercellular adhesive junctions of epithelial cells that contain two major transmembrane components, the desmogleins (Dsg) and desmocollins (Dsc), which are cadherin-type cell-cell adhesion molecules and are anchored to intermediate filaments of keratin through interactions with plakoglobin and desmoplakin. Desmosomes play an important role in maintaining the proper structure an...

© 2014 The Authors. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1776 Journal Compilation © 2014 Acta Dermato-Venereologica. ISSN 0001-5555 Non-pathogenic autoantibodies against desmogleins (Dsg), which do not reflect disease activity, might be detected during disease courses of pemphigus, but are rarely shown in healthy individuals (1). To clarify the significance of these antibodies, using various techniques we exa...

Desmogleins are members of the cadherin superfamily which form the core of desmosomes. In vitro studies indicate that the cytoplasmic domain of desmogleins associates with plakoglobin; however, little is known about the role of this domain in desmosome recognition or assembly in vivo, or about the possible relation of desmoglein mutations to epidermal differentiation and disease. To address the...