Production of Neoepitopes by Dynamic Structural Changes on BP180/Type XVII Collagen.

Linear IgA bullous dermatosis is characterized by IgA autoantibodies reactive with LAD-1 and LABD97, truncated forms of BP180 (type XVII collagen), but not with full-length BP180. Toyonaga et al. determined that cleavage within both the C-terminal region and NC16A domain plays a role in exposure of neoepitopes on the 15th collagenous domain of BP180.