Acantholysis, resulting from desmosome weakening by autoantibodies directed against the protein desmoglein, is the disease mechanism attributed to which of the following?
Epidermolysis bullosa
Mucous membrane pemphigoid
Pemphigus vulgaris
Herpes simplex infections
In pemphigus vulgaris, autoantibodies attach to antigens (desmoglein) found in desmosomes that keep keratinocytes linked to each other. Cells eventually separate from each other (acantholysis), resulting in short-lived intraepithelial vesicles/bullae.