Anti-cell surface pemphigus autoantibody stimulates plasminogen activator activity of human epidermal cells. A mechanism for the loss of epidermal cohesion and blister formation.

Binding of anti-cell surface pemphigus autoantibodies to cultured human epidermal cells stimulates synthesis and secretion of plasminogen activator (PA). Increases in PA activity were detected within 6 h of the addition of IgG and stimulation was dependent upon IgG concentration. Stimulation of PA activity was inhibited by cycloheximide, which indicates that synthesis of protein was necessary. Pharmacological doses of dexamethasone also...