Skip to main content
Log in

Epidermolysis Bullosa

New and Emerging Trends

  • Leading Article
  • Published:
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Epidermolysis bullosa is a family of inherited blistering skin disorders characterized by blister formation in response to mechanical trauma. Major types of epidermolysis bullosa include epidermolysis bullosa simplex, hemidesmosomal epidermolysis bullosa, junctional epidermolysis bullosa, and dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

Current treatment for epidermolysis bullosa consists of supportive care for skin and other organ systems and entails a combination of wound management, infection support for chronic wounds, surgical management as needed, nutritional support, and preventative screening for squamous cell carcinoma in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. The regimen must be tailored specifically to the severity and extent of skin and systemic involvement in each case.

Recent studies have identified specific protein and genetic abnormalities for most epidermolysis bullosa subtypes. These new advancements in the understanding of molecular pathophysiology have provided much of the basis for current efforts to develop effective gene and protein therapy for epidermolysis bullosa.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Table I

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Use of tradenames is for product identification only and does not imply endorsement.

References

  1. Burgeson R.E., Christiano A.M. The dermal-epidermal junction. Curr Opin Cell Biol 1997; 9 (5): 651–658

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Marinkovich M.P. The molecular genetics of basement membrane diseases. Arch Dermatol 1993; 129: 1557–1565

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Fuchs E., Green H. The expression of keratin genes in epidermis and cultured epidermal cells. Cell 1978; 15 (3): 887–897

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Heida Y., Nishizawa Y., Uematsu J., et al. Identification of a new major hemidesmosomal protein, HD1: a major high molecular mass component of isolated hemidesmosomes. J Cell Biol 1992; 116: 1497–1506

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Liu J.G., Mayne R. The complete cDNA coding sequence and tissue-specific expression of the mouse laminin alpha4 chain. Matrix Biol 1996; 15 (6): 433–437

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Sawamura D.K., Li K., Chu M.L., et al. Human bullous pemphigoid antigen (BPAG1): amino acid sequence deduced from cloned cDNAs predicts biologically important peptide segments and protein domains. J Biol Chem 1991; 266: 17784–17790

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Rezniczek G.A., de Pereda J.M., Reipert S., et al. Linking integrin alpha6beta4-based cell adhesion to the intermediate filament cytoskeleton: direct interaction between the beta4 subunit and plectin at multiple molecular sites. J Cell Biol 1998; 141 (1): 209–225

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Borradori L., Chavanas S., Schaapveld R.Q., et al. Role of the bullous pemphigoid antigen 180 (BP180) in the assembly of hemidesmosomes and cell adhesion: reexpression of BP180 in generalized atrophic benign epidermolysis bullosa keratinocytes. Exp Cell Res 1998; 239 (2): 463–476

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Rousselle P., Lunstrum G.P., Keene D.R., et al. Kalinin: an epithelium-specific basement membrane adhesion molecule that is a component of anchoring filaments. J Cell Biol 1991; 114: 567–576

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Marinkovich M.P., Lunstrum G.P., Burgeson R.E. The anchoring filament protein kalinin is synthesized and secreted as a high molecular weight precursor. J Biol Chem 1992; 267: 17900–17906

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Marinkovich M.P., Lunstrum G.P., Keene D.R., et al. The dermal-epidermal junction of human skin contains a novel laminin variant. J Cell Biol 1992; 119: 695–703

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Giudice G.J., Emery D.J., Diaz L.A. Cloning and primary structural analysis of the bullous pemphigoid autoantigen BP180. J Invest Dermatol 1992; 99 (3): 243–250

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Sonnenberg A., Calafat J., Janssen H., et al. Integrin a6b4 complex is located in hemidesomosomes, suggesting a major role in epidermal cell-basement membrane adhesion. J Cell Biol 1991; 113: 907–917

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Champliaud M.F., Lunstrum G.P., Rousselle P., et al. Human amnion contains a novel laminin variant, laminin 7, which like laminin 6, covalently associates with laminin 5 to promote stable epithelial-stromal attachment. J Cell Biol 1996; 132 (6): 1189–1198

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Niessen C.M., Hogervorst F., Jaspars L.H., et al. The a6 b4 integrin is a receptor for both laminin and kalinin. Exp Cell Res 1994; 211: 360–367

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Burgeson R.E., Lundstrum G.P., Rokosova B. The structure and function of type VII collagen. Ann NY Acad Sci 1990; (580): 32–43

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Rousselle P., Keene D.R., Ruggiero F., et al. Laminin 5 binds the NC-1 domain of type VII collagen. J Cell Biol 1997; 138 (3): 719–728

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Fine J.D., Eady R.A., Bauer E.A., et al. Revised classification system for inherited epidermolysis bullosa: report of the Second International Consensus Meeting on diagnosis and classification of epidermolysis bullosa. J Am Acad Dermatol 2000; 42 (6): 1051–1066

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Uitto J., Pulkkinen L., McLean W.H. Epidermolysis bullosa: a spectrum of clinical phenotypes explained by molecular heterogeneity. Mol Med Today 1997; 3 (10): 457–465

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Bruckner-Tuderman L., Höpfner B., Hammami-Hauasli N. Biology of anchoring fibrils: lessons from dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Matrix Biol 1999; 18 (1): 43–54

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Marinkovich M.P., Herron G.S., Khavari P.A., et al. Inherited epidermolysis bullosa. In: Freedberg I.M., editor. Dermatology in general medicine. New York: MacGraw-Hill, 1999: 690–702

    Google Scholar 

  22. Bonidas J.M., Rothman A.L., Spstein E.H. Epidermolysis bullosa simplex: evidence in two families for keratin gene abnormalities. Science 1991; 254: 1202–1205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Coulombe P.A., Hutton M.E., Letai A., et al. Point mutations in human keratin 14 genes of epidermolysis bullosa simplex patients: genetic and functional analyzes. Cell 1991; 66: 1301–1311

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Hovnanian A., Duquesnoy P., Amselem S. Genetic linkage of recessive epidermolysis bullosa to the type VII collagen gene. J Clin Invest 1992; (90): 1033–1037

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Jonkman M.F., Herres K., Pas H.H., et al. Effects of keratin 14 ablation on the clinical and cellular phenotype in a kindred with recessive epidermolysis bullosa simplex. J Invest Dermatol 1996; 107 (5): 764–769

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Koebner H. Hereditare Anlage zur Blasenbildung. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 1886; 12: 21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Weber F.P. Recurrent bullous eruption on the feet in a child. Proc R Soc Med 1926; 19: 72

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Meneguzzi G., Marinkovich M.P., Aberdan D., et al. Kalinin is abnormally expressed in epithelial basement membranes of Herlitz’s junctional epidermolysis bullosa patients. Exp Dermatol 1992; 1 (5): 221–229

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Jonkman M.F., de Jong M.C.J.M., Heeres K., et al. 180-kD bullous pemphigoid antigen (BP180) is deficient in generalized atrophic benign epidermolysis bullosa. J Clin Invest 1995; 95 (3): 1345–1352

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Aberdam D., Galliano M.F., Vailly J., et al. Herlitz’s junctional epidermolysis bullosa is linked to mutations in the gene (LAMC2) for the g2 subunit of nicein/kalinin (LAMININ-5). Nat Genet 1994; 6 (3): 299–304

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Pulkkinen L., Christiano A.M., Gerecke D., et al. A homozygous nonsense mutation in the ß 3 chain gene of laminin 5 (LAMB3) in Herlitz junctional epidermolysis bullosa. Genomics 1994; 24 (2): 357–360

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Pulkkinen L., Christiano A.M., Airenne T., et al. Mutations in the g2 chain gene (LAMC2) of kalinin/laminin 5 in the junctional forms of epidermolysis bullosa. Nat Genet 1994; 6: 293–298

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Kivirikko S., McGrath J.A., Pulkkinen L., et al. Mutational hotspots in the LAMB3 gene in the lethal (Herlitz) type of junctional epidermolysis bullosa. Hum Mol Genet 1996; 5 (2): 231–237

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Marinkovich M.P., Verrando P., Keene D.R., et al. The basement membrane proteins kalinin and nicein are structurally and immunologically identical. Lab Invest 1993; 69: 295–299

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Hashimoto I., Schnyder U.W., Anton-Lamprecht I. Epidermolysis bullosa hereditaria with junctional blistering in an adult. Dermatologica 1976; 152 (2): 72–86

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Hintner H., Wolff K. Generalized atrophic benign epidermolysis bullosa. Arch Dermatol 1982; 118 (6): 375–384

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Uitto J., Pulkkinen L., Christiano A.M. Molecular basis of the dystrophic and junctional form of epidermolysis bullosa: mutations in the type VII collagen and kalinin (laminin-5) genes. J Invest Dermatol 1994; 103 (5 Suppl.): S39–S46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Parente M.G., Chung L.C., Fyynanen J., et al. Human type VII collagen: cDNA cloning and chromosomal mapping of the gene. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1991; 88 (16): 6931–6935

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. McGrath J.A., Schofield D.M., Mayou B.J., et al. Epidermolysis bullosa complicated by squamous cell carcinoma: report of 10 cases. J Cutan Pathol 1992; 19 (2): 116–123

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Smith L.T. Ultrastructural findings in epidermolysis bullosa. Arch Dermatol 1993; 129 (12): 1578–1584

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Marinkovich M.P. Update on inherited bullous dermatoses. Dermatol Clin 1999; 17 (3): 473–485

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. McLean W.H., Pulkkinen L., Smith P.J., et al. Loss of plectin causes epidermolysis bullosa with muscular dystrophy: cDNA cloning and genomic organization. Genes Dev 1996; 10 (14): 1724–1735

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Chavanas S., Pulkkinen L., Gache Y., et al. A homozygous nonsense mutation in the PLEC1 gene in patients with epidermolysis bullosa simplex with muscular dystrophy. J Clin Invest 1996; 98 (10): 2196–2200

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Elliott C.E., Becker B., Oehler S., et al. Plectin transcript diversity: identification and tissue distribution of variants with distinct first coding exons and rodless isoforms. Genomics 1997; 42 (1): 115–125

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Ruzzi L., Gagnoux-Palacios L., Pinola M., et al. A homozygous mutation in the integrin alpha6 gene in junctional epidermolysis bullosa with pyloric atresia. J Clin Invest 1997; 99 (12): 2826–2831

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Vidal F., Aberdam D., Miquel C., et al. Integrin ß 4 mutations associated with junctional epidermolysis bullosa with pyloric atresia. Nat Genet 1995; 10 (2): 229–234

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Zimmer K.P., Schumann H., Mecklenbeck S., et al. Esophageal stenosis in childhood: dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa without skin blistering due to collagen VII mutations. Gastroenterology 2002; 122 (1): 220–225

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Pulkkinen L., Rouan F., Bruckner-Tuderman L., et al. Novel ITGB4 mutations in lethal and nonlethal variants of epidermolysis bullosa with pyloric atresia: missense versus nonsense. Am J Hum Genet 1998; 63 (5): 1376–1387

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Nakano A., Pulkkinen L., Murrell D., et al. Epidermolysis bullosa with congenital pyloric atresia: novel mutations in the ß 4 integrin gene (ITGB4) and genotype/ phenotype correlations. Pediatr Res 2001; 49 (5): 618–626

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Tidman M.J., Eady R.A.J. Hemidesmosome heterogeneity in junctional epidermolysis bullosa revealed by morphometric analysis. J Invest Dermatol 1986; (86): 51–56

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Tidman M.J., Eady R.A.J. Evaluation of anchoring fibrils and other components of the dermal-epidermal junction in dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa by a quantitative ultrastructural technique. J Invest Dermatol 1985; (84): 374–377

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Pearson R.W. Histopathologic and ultrastructional findings in certain genodermatoses. Clin Dermatol 1985; (3): 143–174

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Lin AN, Carter DM, editors. Epidermolysis bullosa: basic and clinical aspects. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1992: 302

  54. Carter D.M., Lin A.N., Varghese M.C., et al. Treatment of junctional epidermolysis bullosa with epidermal autografts. J Am Acad Dermatol 1987; 17 (2 Pt 1): 246–250

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Hill J.C., Grimwood R.E., Parsons D.S. Treatment of chronic erosions of junctional epidermolysis bullosa with human epidermal allografts. J Dermatol Surg Oncol 1992; 18 (5): 396–400

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Bastin K.T., Steeves R.A., Richards M.J. Radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma in dystrophic epidermolysis: case reports and literature review. Am J Clin Oncol 1997; 20 (1): 55–58

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Ladd A.L., Kibele A., Gibbons S. Surgical treatment and postoperative splinting of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. J Hand Surg [Br] 1996; 21 (5): 888–897

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Terrill P.J., Mayou B.J., Pemberton J. Experience in the surgical management of the hand in dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Br J Plast Surg 1992; 45 (6): 435–442

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Vozdvizhensky S.I., Albanova V.I. Surgical treatment of contracture and syndactyly of children with epidermolysis bullosa. Br J Plast Surg 1993; 46 (4): 314–316

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Terrill P.J., Mayou B.J., McKee P.H., et al. The surgical management of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (excluding the hand). Br J Plast Surg 1992; 45 (6): 426–434

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Travis S.P., McGrath J.A., Turnbull A.J., et al. Oral and gastrointestinal manifestations of epidermolysis bullosa. Lancet 1992; 340: 1505–1506

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Griffin R.P., Mayou B.J. The anesthetic management of patients with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa: a review of 44 patients over a 10 year period. Anesthesia 1993; 48 (9): 810–815

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Shah M.D., Berman W.F. Endoscopic balloon dilation of esophageal strictures in children. Gastrointest Endosc 1993; 39 (2): 153–156

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Haynes L., Atherton D.J., Ade-Ajayi N., et al. Gastrostomy and growth in dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Br J Dermatol 1996; 134 (5): 872–879

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Haynes L., Atherton D., Clayden G. Constipation in epidermolysis bullosa: successful treatment with a liquid fiber-containing formula. Pediatr Dermatol 1997; 14 (5): 393–396

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Lin A.N., Murphy F., Brodie S.E., et al. Review of ophthalmic findings in 204 patients with epidermolysis bullosa. Am J Ophthalmol 1994; 118 (3): 384–390

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Tong L., Hodgkins P.R., Denyer J., et al. The eye in epidermolysis bullosa. Br J Ophthalmol 1999; 83 (3): 323–326

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Wright J.T., Fine F.D., Johnson L. Dental carries risk of hereditary epidermolysis bullosa. Pediatr Dent 1994; 16 (6): 427–432

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Lechner-Gruskay D., Honig P.J., Pereira G., et al. Nutritional and metabolic profile of children with epidermolysis bullosa. Pediatr Dermatol 1988; 5 (1): 22–27

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Birge K. Nutrition management of patients with epidermolysis bullosa. J Am Diet Assoc 1995; 95 (5): 575–579

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Darling T.N., Bauer J.W., Hintner H., et al. Generalized atrophic benign epidermolysis bullosa. Adv Dermatol 1997; 13: 87–119

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Fridge J.L., Vichinsky E.P. Correction of the anemia of epidermolysis bullosa with intravenous iron and erythropoietin. J Pediatr 1998; 132 (5): 871–873

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Atherton D.J., Cox I., Hann I. Intravenous iron (III) hydroxide-sucrose complex for anemia in epidermolysis bullosa [letter]. Br J Dermatol 1999; 140 (4): 773

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Caldwell-Brown D., Stern R.S., Lin A.N., et al. Lack of efficacy of phenytoin in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa: Epidermolysis Bullosa Study Group. N Engl J Med 1992; 327 (3): 163–167

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Unger W.P., Nethercott J.R. Epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica treated with vitamin E and oral corticosteroids. Can Med Assoc J 1973; 108 (9): 1136–1138

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Smith E.B., Michener W.M. Vitamin E treatment of dermolytic bullous dermatosis: a controlled study. Arch Dermatol 1973; 108 (2): 254–256

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Shirakata Y., Shiraishi S., Sayama K., et al. High-dose tocopherol acetate therapy in epidermolysis bullosa siblings of the Cockayne-Touraine type. J Dermatol 1993; 20 (11): 723–725

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  78. Fritsch P., Klein G., Aubock J., et al. Retinoid therapy of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. J Am Acad Dermatol 1983; 9 (5): 766–767

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  79. Andreano J.M., Tomecki J.K. Epidermolysis bullosa simplex responding to isotretinoin. Arch Dermatol 1988; 124 (9): 1445–1446

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  80. Husz S., Olah J., Korom I., et al. Cyclosporin for dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Lancet 1989; II (8676): 1393–1394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  81. Coberly S.B.M., Tran H.T., Keene D.R., et al. Exogenous laminin 5 protein therapy corrects JEB keratinocyte adhesive defects in vitro and basement membrane defects in a JEB skin equivalent system [abstract]. J Invest Dermatol 1997; 108: 549A

    Google Scholar 

  82. Khavari P.A. Genetic correction of inherited epidermal disorders. Hum Gene Ther 2000; 11 (16): 2277–2282

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  83. Dellambra E., Vailly J., Pellegrini G., et al. Corrective transduction of human epidermal stem cells in laminin-5-dependent junctional epidermolysis bullosa. Hum Gene Ther 1998; 9 (9): 1359–1370

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  84. Robbins P.B., Lin Q., Goodnough J., et al. In vivo restoration of laminin 5 ß 3 expression and function in junctional epidermolysis bullosa. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2001; 98 (9): 5193–5198

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  85. Dellambra E., Prislei S., Salvati A.L., et al. Gene correction of integrin ß 4-dependent pyloric atresia-junctional epidermolysis bullosa keratinocytes establishes a role for ß 4 tyrosines 1422 and 1440 in hemidesmosome assembly. J Biol Chem 2001; 276 (44): 41336–41342

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  86. Blau H., Khavari P. Gene therapy: progress, problems, prospects. Nat Med 1997; 3 (6): 612–613

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  87. Santana E., Peritz A.E., Iyer S., et al. Different frequency of gene targeting events by the RNA-DNA oligonucleotide among epithelial cells. J Invest Dermatol 1998; 111 (6): 1172–1177

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  88. Lin M.T., Pulkkinen L., Uitto J., et al. The gene gun: current applications in cutaneous gene therapy. Int J Dermatol 2000; 39 (3): 161–170

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  89. Lin M.T., Wang F., Uitto J., et al. Differential expression of tissue-specific promoters by gene gun. Br J Dermatol 2001; 144 (1): 34–39

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Eric Lin and Nancy Griffiths in the preparation of this manuscript, the funding assistance of the Palo Alto VA Health Care System and NIH grants P01-44102 and R01-AR47223, and the support and encouragement of the Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Peter Marinkovich.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pai, S., Marinkovich, M.P. Epidermolysis Bullosa. Am J Clin Dermatol 3, 371–380 (2002). https://doi.org/10.2165/00128071-200203060-00001

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00128071-200203060-00001

Keywords

Navigation