Bullous pemphigoid anti-BP180-NC16A autoantibody reactivity in healthy individuals is associated with marked hypovitaminosis D and Th2-like cytokine predominance

• Published in: Archives of Dermatological Research Vol. 315; no. 10; pp. 2921 - 2926
• Main Authors: Tukaj, Stefan, Bieber, Katja, Prüßmann, Wiebke, Prüßmann, Jasper N., Schmidt, Enno, Zillikens, Detlef, Ludwig, Ralf J., Kasperkiewicz, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.12.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D; Autoantibodies; Blood donors; Bullous diseases; Bullous pemphigoid; Concise Communications; Cytokines; Dermatology; Immunoglobulin G; Immunomodulation; Interleukin 10; Interleukin 13; Interleukin 2; Interleukin 5; Interleukin 9; Lymphocytes T; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Vitamin D; Vitamin deficiency; γ-Interferon; 25(OH)D; Vitamin D; Bullous pemphigoid; Cytokine; Th2
• ISSN: 1432-069X; 0340-3696; 1432-069X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00403-022-02386-4

Autoimmune bullous disease autoantibodies, particularly including bullous pemphigoid (BP)-related anti-BP180-NC16A IgG, have been reported in a small subset of healthy individuals, but information about associated factors is lacking. We hypothesized that an abnormal status of immunomodulatory vitamin D could play a role in anti-BP180-NC16A autoantibody reactivity in healthy persons. In addition, we aimed to evaluate the cytokine profile associated with these autoantibodies. Plasma samples from 34 anti-BP180-NC16A IgG-reactive and 85 anti-BP180-NC16A IgG-negative healthy blood donors were tested for levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and a wide range of cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22, IFN-γ, and TNF-α). We observed that anti-BP180-NC16A IgG-reactive healthy subjects had significantly lower plasma 25(OH)D levels and about a two-fold higher rate of vitamin D deficiency (< 20 ng/ml) compared to anti-BP180-NC16A IgG-negative healthy persons. In addition, anti-BP180-NC16A IgG-positive samples were characterized by significantly higher levels of IL-2, IL-5, IL-9, IL-10, and IL-13 which were, however, not significantly associated with the vitamin D levels. Our results indicate that healthy individuals with BP autoantibody reactivity share similarities with BP patients regarding the vitamin D status and cytokine profile (i.e., marked hypovitaminosis D and Th2 predominance), which may have pathophysiologic implications.