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Structure of Desmosomes

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Autoimmune Bullous Diseases

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Abstract

Desmosomes are cell-cell junctions that connect neighboring cells to their intermediate filament networks that serve to provide mechanical strength to the tissue. Major proteins that compose desmosomes are desmogleins, desmocollins, plakoglobin, plakophilins, and desmoplakin. Isoforms of desmosomal proteins have different distribution in tissues, some of them being more ubiquitous and others being expressed only in specific tissues. The importance of desmosomal proteins for sustaining epithelial architecture is demonstrated in genetic, autoimmune, and infectious human blistering diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Dermatology and Cell Biology, Center for Blistering Diseases, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands

    Ena Sokol MD

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  1. Ena Sokol MD
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Correspondence to Ena Sokol MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Groningen Center for Blistering Diseases, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Marcel F. Jonkman

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Sokol, E. (2016). Structure of Desmosomes. In: Jonkman, M. (eds) Autoimmune Bullous Diseases. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23754-1_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23754-1_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-23753-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-23754-1

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