In their pharmacological range, dapsone or nicotinamide do not reduce cell viability of NHEK. NHEK were stimulated with 4 mg/ml IgG from a BP patient (BP IgG), IgG from a healthy volunteer (Normal IgG), and with medium alone (Medium). In addition, 4 mg/ml normal human IgG was incubated with various concentrations of dapsone or nicotinamide (pharmacological ranges are indicated with †) for 12 h. Cell viability was analysed by a nonradioactive cell proliferation assay. Samples were tested in duplicate, bars show mean ±SD. *statistical significant difference in cell viability compared to normal IgG-treated NHEK (P < 0·01). □ BP IgG; Normal IgG; ▪ Medium.