Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin Is Implicated in the Pathogenesis of Bullous Pemphigoid by Dendritic Cells

Figure 5

The expression of TSLP in the BP lesional skin was associated with the amount of DC-SIGN-positive DCs, but not LCs. (a) Staining with DC-SIGN (green), TSLP (red), and DAPI (blue) showed the amount of DC-SIGN-positive DCs (white arrowheads) infiltrated in the dermis beneath blisters or TSLP-positive epidermis. (b) Staining with langerin (green), TSLP (red), and DAPI (blue) showed that the LCs (white arrowhead) existed in the epidermis regardless of whether TSLP was positive or not. Results from three patients with BP are shown in (a, b), respectively. Dashed white lines indicate the basement membrane zone or edge of blister. Asterisks () indicate the area of blisters. Original magnification: ×100 and ×200, . BP: bullous pemphigoid; DAPI: 4,6-diamino-2-phenyl indole; DCs: dendritic cells; DC-SIGN: dendritic cell–specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin; LCs: Langerhans cells; TSLP: thymic stromal lymphopoietin.

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