Autoimmunity against type VII collagen in inflammatory bowel disease.

摘要: Autoimmunity against type VII collagen, an adhesion molecule of the extracellular matrix in epithelial basement membranes, is causing rare organ-specific epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA). An intriguing association between EBA and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been extensively documented over last decades, but, because very low incidence EBA, received little attention from physicians involved care patients with IBD. More recently, autoantibodies collagen have detected up to 68% IBD patients. Although these findings suggest that chronic intestinal inflammation predisposes for autoimmunity their relevance pathogenesis both still unclear. In this review article, main features are presented pathomechanistic hypotheses as well future lines investigation area discussed. Future research should provide new insights will likely facilitate development more specific effective immunotherapeutic strategies conditions.