Skin biology and research

A 45-year-old man presented with painful oral erosions and flaccid blisters on the trunk, with a positive Nikolsky sign. Histopathology revealed intraepidermal acantholysis. Direct immunofluorescence demonstrated intercellular IgG and C3 deposition in a ‘fishnet’ pattern, confirming pemphigus vulgaris. To determine the specific target antigens, the patient’s serum was analysed using a technique that separates epidermal proteins by molecular weight and detects bound autoantibodies.