Mediators of inflammation in blister fluids from patients with pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid.

Blister fluids from 39 previously untreated patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and 28 patients with bullous pemphigoid (BP) were tested for the presence of inflammatory mediators. Blister fluids from patients with PV and BP showed interleukin 1 (IL-1)- and interleukin 2 (IL-2)-like activity and contained prostaglandin (PG) E2, F1 alpha, and F2 alpha, thromboxane B2 (TB2), leukotriene (LT) B4 and C4, serine esterases, and proteolysis inhibitors. Pemphigus blister fluid was distinguished by high IL-1-like activity, proteolytic activity, and high concentrations of TB2 and LTB4, while pemphigoid blister fluid was characterized by higher IL-2-like activity, antiprotease activity, and high PGE2 concentration.