Minerva Medica 2022 Feb 14

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4806.22.07652-2

Copyright © 2022 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Increased concentration of soluble leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor (LAIR) in sera from patients with blistering diseases: possible pathophysiological implications?

Manuela MARCHIANO ^{1, 2}, Erika IERVASI ^{2, 3}, Giampaola PESCE ^{1, 2}, Margarita RUMBULLAKU ^{1, 2}, Caterina FOTI ⁴, Ruggiero FUMARULO ⁵, Aurora PARODI ⁶, Marcello BAGNASCO ¹, Marilina TAMPOIA ⁴, Daniele SAVERINO ^{2, 3} ✉

¹ DIMI, University of Genova, Genova, Italy; ² Laboratory of Autoimmunology Ospedale Policlinico San Martino-IRCCS, Genova, Italy; ³ DiMeS, University of Genova, Genova, Italy; ⁴ Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Polyclinic of Bari, University of Bari, Bari, Italy; ⁵ Unit of Dermatology, Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy; ⁶ DISSAL University of Genova, Genova, Italy

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune Blistering Diseases (AIBD), are a heterogeneous group. Despite their pathogenesis is not completely understood, autoantibodies against directed adhesion molecules of the skin and adjacent mucous membranes could play a key role. The leukocyte-associated-Ig-like-receptor (LAIR) family is a small group of immunoreceptor-tyrosine-based-inhibition-motif-containing inhibitory receptors, recognizing collagens. LAIR-1 is a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed on human-peripheral-blood-leukocytes. LAIR-2 is a secreted receptor mainly produced by CD4+ T-lymphocytes, and is able to regulate the inhibitory potential of LAIR-1. Both LAIRs have been associated with several autoimmune diseases and inflammatory responses.
METHODS: We evaluated circulating LAIRs in patients with different blistering skin diseases by ELISA.
RESULTS: A significant increase of serum LAIR-2, and to a lesser extent of sLAIR-1 (with the exception of Pemphigus vulgaris), in the whole group of patients with bullous diseases, irrespective of the pathogenesis, compared to healthy controls was evident.
CONCLUSIONS: Although the pathophysiological meaning of LAIR is not completely elucidated, the presence of increased concentration of LAIR proteins can somehow modulate the cascade of inflammatory phenomenon occurring in bullous skin diseases, in different way depending upon specific skin disease considered.

KEY WORDS: Autoimmune blistering diseases; LAIR; Autoantibodies against collagen proteins