Abstract:

Objective To study the expression of C3d in bullous pemphigoid lesions and its clinical significance. Methods The immunohistochemical SP method was used to detect the expression of C3d, IgG and IgA in tissue specimens from the lesions of 25 patients with bullous pemphigoid, 10 patients with epidermolysis bullosa and normal skin of 10 human controls. The expression rates of these proteins were compared. Results The expression rates of C3d, IgG and IgA were 96%, 72.0% and 0 respectively in bullous pemphigoid tissue. Significant differences were found in the expression rates between C3d and IgG （χ2 = 4.17，P < 0.05）, as well as between C3d and IgA （χ2 = 22.04, P < 0.01）, in bullous pemphigoid tissue. No expression of C3d, IgG or IgA was observed in epidermolysis bullosa lesions or the control skin. Conslusion The detection of C3d with immunohistochemistry in paraffin-embedded tissue sections may facilitate the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid.

Key words: C3d