Figure 3.
IgG to murine type VII collagen induces cutaneous lesions in adult mice. (A) Extensive skin lesions, including blisters, erosions, and epidermal detachment, developed in a BALB/cnu/nu mouse receiving, over a period of 10 days, 5 injections of IgG, each containing 7.5 mg of IgG, from a rabbit immunized against murine type VII collagen. Injections into the back of the mouse induced (B) spontaneous blisters on the left ear and, upon tangential pressure, (C) epidermal detachment on the right ear. (D) Epidermal detachment was also elicited on tail skin, and (E) the epidermis could subsequently be easily lifted up from the dermis. (F) Erosions covered by crusts on the hind limb. (G–I) A control mouse challenged with the same dose of normal rabbit IgG showed no skin alterations.