Pemphigus: Research & Resources

Research Progress Related to Pemphigus

The NIAMS Dermatology Branch conducts clinical and basic research of the skin and skin diseases, such as:  

• The skin as an organ that has immunological properties. 
• Inflammatory skin diseases.
• The human microbiome and its influence in healthy people and those with skin diseases.
• Skin stem cells. 

In addition, researchers supported by NIAMS and other institutions are gaining insights into the basic cellular mechanisms that regulate cell-to-cell interactions and are working to identify new therapeutic targets for the treatment of pemphigus and other skin diseases characterized by skin fragility. Since pemphigus is caused by an abnormal immune attack on skin, a number of investigators are pursuing strategies to bring the disease under control by targeting immune cells.

• B cells: Several efforts are aimed at characterizing B cells, immune cells that play a key role in the autoimmune attack on the skin in people with the disease. By providing information on how these cells turn on the body and attack healthy skin, this work may lead to new treatment strategies. In addition, clinical trials are underway to test the efficacy of certain B cell cancer medicines on pemphigus.
• T cells: When the body is infected with a pathogen, a population of immune cells called regulatory T cells helps to shut down the immune response once the threat is gone. Researchers are trying to find ways to engineer these cells to suppress the autoimmune attack in pemphigus.