Laminin 332 is a heterotrimeric structural
protein of the basal membrane zone (BMZ) of the skin and adjacent mucosal tissues. The importance of
laminin 332 for the structural integrity of the BMZ is demonstrated by mutations in any of the three genes encoding for its three chains causing variants of
junctional epidermolysis bullosa. Autoimmunity against
laminin 332 is observed in mucous membrane
pemphigoid (
MMP) and in the rare patients with orf-induced
pemphigoid.
MMP is an autoimmune blistering disease with predominant mucosal manifestations and
autoantibodies against the BMZ of the skin and orifice-close mucous membranes. The main
autoantigens of
MMP are
type XVII collagen (BP180) and
laminin 332 targeted in about 80% and 10-20% of patients, respectively. An increasing number of studies has highlighted the association of anti-
laminin 332 MMP and
malignancies that can be revealed in about a quarter of these patients. This data has led to the recommendation of current guidelines to assay for anti-
laminin 332 reactivity in all
MMP patients. The present review focuses on anti-
laminin 332 MMP describing clinical features, its pathophysiology, and detection of serum anti-
laminin 332 IgG. In addition, the available data about the occurrence of
malignancies in anti-
laminin 332 MMP, the underlying
tumor entities, and its biology are detailed.