Autoantibodies are frequently observed in healthy individuals. In a minority of these
individuals, they lead to manifestation of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis …

Pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid are autoantibody-mediated blistering skin diseases. In
pemphigus, keratinocytes in epidermis and mucous membranes lose cell-cell adhesion, and …

Desmosomal cadherins are a recent evolutionary innovation that make up the adhesive core
of highly specialized intercellular junctions called desmosomes. Desmosomal cadherins …

The desmosome is a cell–cell adhesive junction that provides integrity and mechanical
resistance to tissues through its attachment to the intermediate filament cytoskeleton …

Epithelial barrier function is regulated by a family of transmembrane proteins known as
claudins. Functional tight junctions are formed when claudins interact with other …

Connexins are tetraspan transmembrane proteins that form gap junctions and facilitate
direct intercellular communication, a critical feature for the development, function, and …

Desmosomes are relatives of ancient cadherin-based junctions, which emerged late in
evolution to ensure the structural integrity of vertebrate tissues by coupling the intermediate …

The autoimmune blistering skin disease pemphigus is caused by IgG autoantibodies against
desmosomal cadherins, but the precise mechanisms are in part a matter of controversial …

The development of adhesive connections between cells was critical for the evolution of
multicellularity and for organizing cells into complex organs with discrete compartments …

IgG4 autoimmune diseases are characterized by the presence of antigen-specific
autoantibodies of the IgG4 subclass and contain well-characterized diseases such as …