# Complement Activation May Drive the Pathogenicity of Anti-α6 and Anti-β4 Integrin Antibodies In Vivo

## TL;DR

This study shows that antibodies targeting α6 and β4 integrin can cause mild disease in mice, but do not strongly activate the immune system's complement pathway.

## Contribution

The study reveals the in vivo pathogenic effects of anti-α6 and anti-β4 integrin antibodies and their limited complement activation.

## Key findings

- Anti-α6 and anti-β4 integrin IgG induced reactive oxygen species and CXCL2 secretion in vitro.
- In vivo, these antibodies caused mild conjunctival and oral lesions in mice.
- Complement activation was minimal, as shown by the absence of C3 deposition in tissues.

## Abstract

Autoantibodies targeting α6β4 integrin have been identified in individual patients with mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP). Reactivity against α6 integrin has been associated with oral lesions, while anti-β4 integrin reactivity has been linked to ocular involvement. However, the pathogenic effects of these antibodies have not been fully elucidated. Here, we investigated the pathogenic potential of anti-α6 and anti-β4 integrin IgG both in vitro and in vivo. Immune complexes of anti-α6 and anti-β4 integrin induced the release of reactive oxygen species from normal human leukocytes and stimulated CXCL2 secretion in cultured murine C5N keratinocytes. In vivo, repeated injections of IgG against a recombinant fragment of β4 integrin into C57BL/6 mice led to palpebral conjunctival swelling and mild oral lesions. The latter was observed following injection of IgG against a recombinant fragment of α6 integrin. Histopathological analysis revealed subepithelial inflammatory infiltrates without evidence of split formation. Direct immunofluorescence microscopy showed linear deposits of IgG at the basement membrane zone in most tissues, whereas C3 deposition was largely absent. This lack of complement activation was corroborated by a complement fixation assay, which confirmed that IgG against α6 and β4 integrin failed to induce C3 deposition in normal murine conjunctivae, buccal mucosa, or skin. Collectively, these findings indicate that IgG autoantibodies against α6 and β4 integrin exhibit pathogenic activity in vitro and induce mild disease in vivo, possibly due in part to relatively inefficient complement activation in this model.