Antibody Transfer Bullous Pemphigoid-Like Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita (BP-Like EBA) Mouse Model

To generate anti-Col7 IgG, white New Zealand rabbits were immunized against the C epitope of type VII collagen. Purified anti-Col7 IgG were filter-sterilized (pore size 0.2 μm), quantified by NanoDrop (Thermo Fischer Scientific GmbH, Dreieich, Germany), and assessed for their reactivity to murine Col7 by indirect immunofluorescence analysis performed on murine tail skin sections as previously described (21). Antibody transfer BP-like EBA was induced, as previously described (12, 21). Briefly, mice were injected s.c. with 50 μg of affinity purified anti-Col7 IgG on days 0, 2, and 4 of the experiment. To score the severity of disease, skin areas exhibiting erythema, blisters, erosions, crusts, or alopecia were categorized as “affected.” Subsequently, the percentage of the total body surface affected by skin lesions (ABSA) was calculated on the days indicated in the figures. On day 14, mice were euthanized, and tissue specimens were harvested.