A Review of the Immunologic Pathways Involved in Bullous Pemphigoid and Novel Therapeutic Targets

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a rare, chronic antibody-mediated autoimmune blistering disease primarily affecting the elderly, with an age of onset over 60. Current treatment options are limited and involve the use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, but their long-term use is associated with si...

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Main Authors: Mohsen Afarideh, Robert Borucki, Victoria P. Werth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-05-01
Series:Journal of Clinical Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/10/2856
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author Mohsen Afarideh
Robert Borucki
Victoria P. Werth
author_facet Mohsen Afarideh
Robert Borucki
Victoria P. Werth
author_sort Mohsen Afarideh
collection DOAJ
description Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a rare, chronic antibody-mediated autoimmune blistering disease primarily affecting the elderly, with an age of onset over 60. Current treatment options are limited and involve the use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, but their long-term use is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In Japan, human intravenous immunoglobin is approved for the treatment of corticosteroid-refractory BP. However, no treatment option is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the management of BP. Therefore, developing effective therapies free of debilitating side effects is imperative. In this review, we summarize the main immunologic pathways involved in the pathogenesis of BP, with an emphasis on the role of eosinophils, immunoglobulins, cytokines such as the interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5, and complements. We further discuss the latest advances with novel therapeutic targets tested for the management of BP. Ongoing efforts are needed to run well-designed controlled trials and test the efficacy and safety of investigational drugs while providing much-needed access to these medications for refractory patients who will not otherwise be able to afford them as off-label prescriptions.
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spelling doaj.art-e20f33dad4a543639defb5906a6070082023-11-23T11:35:54ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832022-05-011110285610.3390/jcm11102856A Review of the Immunologic Pathways Involved in Bullous Pemphigoid and Novel Therapeutic TargetsMohsen Afarideh0Robert Borucki1Victoria P. Werth2Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USACorporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USACorporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USABullous pemphigoid (BP) is a rare, chronic antibody-mediated autoimmune blistering disease primarily affecting the elderly, with an age of onset over 60. Current treatment options are limited and involve the use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, but their long-term use is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In Japan, human intravenous immunoglobin is approved for the treatment of corticosteroid-refractory BP. However, no treatment option is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the management of BP. Therefore, developing effective therapies free of debilitating side effects is imperative. In this review, we summarize the main immunologic pathways involved in the pathogenesis of BP, with an emphasis on the role of eosinophils, immunoglobulins, cytokines such as the interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5, and complements. We further discuss the latest advances with novel therapeutic targets tested for the management of BP. Ongoing efforts are needed to run well-designed controlled trials and test the efficacy and safety of investigational drugs while providing much-needed access to these medications for refractory patients who will not otherwise be able to afford them as off-label prescriptions.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/10/2856bullous pemphigoidimmunologytherapeutic targetrandomized controlled trials
spellingShingle Mohsen Afarideh
Robert Borucki
Victoria P. Werth
A Review of the Immunologic Pathways Involved in Bullous Pemphigoid and Novel Therapeutic Targets
Journal of Clinical Medicine
bullous pemphigoid
immunology
therapeutic target
randomized controlled trials
title A Review of the Immunologic Pathways Involved in Bullous Pemphigoid and Novel Therapeutic Targets
title_full A Review of the Immunologic Pathways Involved in Bullous Pemphigoid and Novel Therapeutic Targets
title_fullStr A Review of the Immunologic Pathways Involved in Bullous Pemphigoid and Novel Therapeutic Targets
title_full_unstemmed A Review of the Immunologic Pathways Involved in Bullous Pemphigoid and Novel Therapeutic Targets
title_short A Review of the Immunologic Pathways Involved in Bullous Pemphigoid and Novel Therapeutic Targets
title_sort review of the immunologic pathways involved in bullous pemphigoid and novel therapeutic targets
topic bullous pemphigoid
immunology
therapeutic target
randomized controlled trials
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/10/2856
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