In this study, we investigated the immunomodulatory effects of traditional anti-BP drugs (minocycline, nicotinic acid amide, dexamethasone and cyclosporine) on CD163<sup>+</sup> M2 macrophages in vitro, with special focus on the production of CCL18 and CCL22, both of which are produced by CD163<sup>+</sup> M2 macrophages in the lesional skin of BP and are increased in the serum of BP patients.
To investigate the contribution of M2 macrophages to the pathogenesis of bullous pemphigoid (BP) and pemphigus vulgaris (PV), we employed immunohistochemical staining for CD163 and CD206, as well as pSTAT1, pSTAT6, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, CCL17, CCL18 and Foxp3 in the lesional skin of 10 cases of BP and PV.
CCL18 expression is up-regulated in lesional skin of atopic dermatitis and bullous pemphigoid, suggesting its important roles in the development of these skin diseases.