Immunomodulator galectin-9 is increased in blood and skin of patients with bullous pemphigoid

Massive recruitment of eosinophils into the dermis is a hallmark of bullous pemphigoid pathogenesis. Identifying the chemoattractant(s) guiding eosinophils into the skin in bullous pemphigoid is a prerequisite to therapeutic targeting of eosinophil recruitment. Galectin -9 is a potent chemoattractant for eosinophils, but its potential role in bullous pemphigoid is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the expression levels of galectin-9 in serum and skin of patients with bullous pemphigoid. Galectin-9 levels were significantly elevated in serum of patients with bullous pemphigoid compared with age- and sex-matched controls, but did not correlate with disease activity assessed with the Bullous Pemphigoid Disease Area Index. Galectin-9 expression was also increased in lesional skin of patients with bullous pemphigoid, and was expressed predominantly in eosinophils, neutrophils and keratinocytes. In conclusion, these results support the notion that galectin-9 may play a role in the pathogenesis of bullous pemphigoid.