The disease bullous pemphigoid results in the destruction of proteins within the basement membrane that hold the epidermis and dermis together. How would this likely affect the epidermis?
Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune disease that causes an inflammatory response in the skin, resulting in the destruction of proteins called hemidesmosomes within the basement membrane. These proteins play a crucial role in attaching the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin) to the dermis (the layer below the epidermis).
Once the hemidesmosomes are damaged or destroyed, the attachment between the epidermis and dermis becomes weakened, leading to separation or detachment of the layers. This separation forms fluid-filled blisters, or bullae, on the surface of the skin.
As a result, the epidermis becomes more susceptible to shearing forces and is prone to blistering. The bullae that form in bullous pemphigoid can be itchy, painful, and can rupture easily, leading to exposed areas of raw skin. The condition commonly affects areas such as the trunk, flexural surfaces (areas where skin folds), and extremities.
It is important to note that bullous pemphigoid affects primarily the epidermis and the basement membrane, while the dermis remains relatively unaffected.