Desmoglein-3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DSG3gene.[5][6] In the skin epidermis Desmoglein-3 is expressed in the basal lower layers of the epidermis, and dominates in terms of expression on mucosal surfaces compared to Desmoglein-1.[7]
Desmosomes are cell-cell junctions between epithelial, myocardial, and certain other cell types. Desmoglein 3 is a calcium-binding transmembrane glycoprotein component of desmosomes in vertebrate epithelial cells. Currently, four desmoglein subfamily members have been identified and all are members of the cadherin cell adhesion molecule superfamily. These desmoglein gene family members are located in a cluster on chromosome 18. This protein, along with Desmoglein-1, has been identified as the autoantigen of the autoimmune skin blistering disease pemphigus vulgaris.[8] The mucosal dominant form of pemphigus vulgaris only involves antibodies against Desmoglein-3 and causes mucosal erosions, but no skin lesions.[7] Desmoglein-3 serves as a prognostic marker of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC), and may even be involved in the progression of ESCC.[9]
Pathogenicity of Desmoglein-3 antibodies comes from the existence of a tryptophan residue that could be interacting with the binding pocket that is necessary for trans-interaction of Desmoglein molecules.[10] Such antibodies can lead to the cause of skin disorders like pemphigus vulgaris.
^"Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^"Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^Arnemann J, Spurr NK, Buxton RS (May 1992). "The human gene (DSG3) coding for the pemphigus vulgaris antigen is, like the genes coding for the other two known desmogleins, assigned to chromosome 18". Human Genetics. 89 (3): 347–50. doi:10.1007/bf00220557. PMID1601426. S2CID30558450.
Amagai M, Klaus-Kovtun V, Stanley JR (November 1991). "Autoantibodies against a novel epithelial cadherin in pemphigus vulgaris, a disease of cell adhesion". Cell. 67 (5): 869–77. doi:10.1016/0092-8674(91)90360-B. PMID1720352. S2CID21647774.
Wang Y, Amagai M, Minoshima S, Sakai K, Green KJ, Nishikawa T, Shimizu N (April 1994). "The human genes for desmogleins (DSG1 and DSG3) are located in a small region on chromosome 18q12". Genomics. 20 (3): 492–5. doi:10.1006/geno.1994.1207. PMID8034325.
Schäfer S, Koch PJ, Franke WW (April 1994). "Identification of the ubiquitous human desmoglein, Dsg2, and the expression catalogue of the desmoglein subfamily of desmosomal cadherins". Experimental Cell Research. 211 (2): 391–9. doi:10.1006/excr.1994.1103. PMID8143788.
Marsden MD, Collins JE, Greenwood MD, Adams MJ, Fleming TP, Magee AI, Buxton RS (February 1997). "Cloning and transcriptional analysis of the promoter of the human type 2 desmocollin gene (DSC2)". Gene. 186 (2): 237–47. doi:10.1016/S0378-1119(96)00715-9. PMID9074502.
Ishikawa H, Li K, Tamai K, Sawamura D, Uitto J (August 2000). "Cloning of the mouse desmoglein 3 gene (Dsg3): interspecies conservation within the cadherin superfamily". Experimental Dermatology. 9 (4): 229–39. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0625.2000.009004229.x. PMID10949543. S2CID30935336.
Czerwenka KF, Manavi M, Hosmann J, Jelincic D, Pischinger KI, Battistutti WB, Behnam M, Kubista E (2001). "Comparative analysis of two-dimensional protein patterns in malignant and normal human breast tissue". Cancer Detection and Prevention. 25 (3): 268–79. PMID11425269.