Abstract: Objective To study the effect of single chain variable fragment (ScFv) antibody to EC3-4 fragment of desmoglein (Dsg) 3 in a mouse model of pemphigus vulgaris.Methods The ScFv antibody to EC3-4 fragment of Dsg-3 was injected subcutaneously into neonatal BALB/c mice at different time points;the mice were then evaluated clinically,histopathologically and by direct immunoflorescence examination for the development of lesions.Results When injected alone,the ScFv antibody did not induce the appearance of key clinical features of pemphigus vulgaris.The antibody also did not prevent the development of pemphigus vulgaris features induced by sera of patients with pemphigus vulgaris,regardless of the time point of injection of ScFv antibody.Conclusion The ScFv antibody to EC3-4 fragment of Dsg-3 lacks pathogenicity in neonatal BALB/c mice,and also could not inhibit the development of lesions induced by sera from patients with pemphigus vulgaris.

Key words: Pemphigus vulgaris, Antibodies,anti-Dsg3, Models,animal