Autoantibodies,
immunoglobulins G (
IgG) against the desmosomal
proteins desmogleins 1 and 3, play a significant role in the pathogenesis of
pemphigus vulgaris. The basic
therapy for pemfigus includes systemic
corticosteroids, but their use should be as brief as possible because of the severe side effects. In cases of
corticosteroid- resistant pemfigus, adjuvant
therapy, in particular extracorporeal methods, is used. The most effective and safest extracorporeal
therapy is immunosorbtion. Immunosorbtion is based on the removal of
pemphigus antibodies from the blood using an affinity sorbent during a therapeutic
apheresis procedure. Existing
immunosorbents are nonselective and increase the risk of
infection. We designed an
immunosorbent based on an
agarose matrix,
Affi-Gel 15, and human recombinant
desmoglein 3, as a
ligand, for a selective removal of
autoantibodies from
pemphigus patients' sera. It was shown on a
pemphigus experimental model in vivo (neonatal Balb/c mouse model) and in vitro that the
immunosorbent can effectively remove
desmoglein 3-associated
autoantibodies. The experimental results demonstrate that the solid-phase matrix
immunosorbent Affi-Gel 15-Dsg3 is a promising product for the development of
pemphigus therapy.