Abstract
This chapter discusses (1) methods for detecting and measuring activation of the complement (C) system and generation of C-derived chemotactic activity by immune complexes formed at the cutaneous basement membrane zone (BMZ); (2) the results of studies investigating that activity in bullous pemphigoid (BP) and related blistering diseases; and (3) the significance of the results to mechanisms of inflammation in BP. The results provide functional evidence supporting pathologic and biochemical studies that suggest chemotactic factors other than those derived from immune complex-mediated C activation are important in the initial recruitment of leukocytes into BP lesions. The results also support recent immunohistologic and immunoultrastructural evidence that there is a significant pool of BP antigen in normal viable skin that is inaccessible to BP antibodies and suggest this pool may be important in amplifying inflammation in evolving BP lesions.
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