Abstract: Objective To explore the location of binding sites of autoantibodies in patients with pemphigus.Methods The direct and indirect immunogold labeling electron microscopic techniques were used to detect the ultrastructural location of the immunoglobulin G in the skin lesions of five patients(pemphigus vulgaris 4, pemphigus foliaceus 1), and location of binding sites of the circulating autoantibodies with normal human skin in the sera of eight patients(pemphigus vulgaris 6, pemphigus foliaceus 2), using LR White resin as embedding reagent.Results Binding of gold labeling anti-human IgC was observed predominantly on desmosomal complex, but not on non-desmosomal cell surface of keratinocytes.Conclusion The target antigens of pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus are components of desmosome, and these antigens are located on the desmosomal complex.

Key words: Pemphigus, Autoantibodies, Antigens