Paraneoplastic Pemphigus Vulgaris Syndrome with orbital invasion, ectopic pancreas, and severe insulinitis: Autoimmune heterogeneity profile using scRNA-seq

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70577/ASCE/938.961/2025

Keywords:

paraneoplastic pemphigus, paraneoplastic autoimmune multiorgan syndrome, single-cell RNA sequencing, orbital invasión

Abstract

Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is a highly fatal autoimmune blistering disease associated with underlying neoplasms. Its atypical presentation with orbital involvement, ectopic pancreas, and severe insulinitis constitutes a rare phenotype. This review synthesizes evidence on pathophysiological mechanisms, atypical manifestations, and therapies for PNP, emphasizing autoimmune heterogeneity revealed by single‑cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‑seq). A search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Orphanet. PNP results from an autoimmune response against desmosomal antigens, mediated by antibodies and T cells, leading to acantholysis and multiorgan involvement. scRNA‑seq has revealed enrichment of ITGAL+ T cells, abnormal γδT subtypes, and BCL2+ B cells in bone marrow and peripheral blood, delineating a dynamic immune landscape that explains clinical heterogeneity. Management requires a multidisciplinary approach combining oncological treatment, targeted immunosuppression, and biologic therapies such as rituximab.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

R. Wei, S. Yang, J. Lu, and X. Huang, "Single cell sequencing of bone marrow cells and peripheral mononuclear cells reveals immune features of paraneoplastic pemphigus in a FL patient," Blood, vol. 146, no. Suppl. 1, p. 7114, 2025. doi: 10.1182/blood 2025 7114.

"Paraneoplastic pemphigus: Insight into the autoimmune pathogenesis, clinical features and therapy," Int. J. Mol. Sci., vol. 18, no. 12, p. 2532, 2017. doi: 10.3390/ijms18122532.

"Paraneoplastic autoimmune multi organ syndrome is a distinct entity from traditional pemphigus subtypes," Nat. Rev. Dis. Primers, vol. 4, p. 18003, 2018. doi: 10.1038/nrdp.2018.3.

"Paraneoplastic pemphigus: clinical features and prognostic factors," J. Am. Acad. Dermatol., vol. 92, no. 2, pp. 307-310, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2024.10.013.

"Single cell sequencing reveals distinct immune cell features in cutaneous lesions of pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid," Nat. Commun., vol. 15, p. 3124, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41467 024 47456 7.

"Comprehensive review on the pathophysiology, clinical variants and management of pemphigus," Exp. Ther. Med., vol. 21, no. 4, p. 345, 2021. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.9776.

"Paraneoplastic syndromes in the orbit and ocular adnexa: A comprehensive review," Int. Ophthalmol. Clin., vol. 65, no. 3, pp. 1-15, 2025. doi: 10.1097/IIO.0000000000000456.

"Paraneoplastic pemphigus: An indication for treatment in chronic lymphocytic leukemia," Am. J. Hematol., vol. 95, no. 6, pp. 678-685, 2020. doi: 10.1002/ajh.25789.

"Interleukin (IL) 34 promotes the inflammatory role of IL 1β producing myeloid cells in pemphigus lesions," J. Invest. Dermatol., vol. 145, no. 7, pp. 1456-1467, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2025.01.023.

"T cell receptor repertoire analysis in pemphigus vulgaris using single cell RNA sequencing," Front. Immunol., vol. 15, p. 1409876, 2024. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1409876.

R. Wei, B. Liu, Y. Liu, W. Li, Z. Chen, J. Lu, Y. Zheng, and S. Yang, "Single cell sequencing reveals dynamic immune features of paraneoplastic pemphigus in a patient with follicular lymphoma," Front. Immunol., vol. 17, p. 1733718, 2026 (in press). doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1733718.

M. Zou, K. Zhan, Y. Zhang, L. Li, J. Li, J. Gao, X. Liu, and W. Li, "A systematic review of paraneoplastic pemphigus and paraneoplastic autoimmune multiorgan syndrome: Clinical features and prognostic factors," J. Am. Acad. Dermatol., vol. 92, no. 2, pp. 307-310, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2024.10.013.

H. J. Anderson, S. Huang, and J. B. Lee, "Paraneoplastic pemphigus/paraneoplastic autoimmune multiorgan syndrome: Part I. Clinical overview and pathophysiology," J. Am. Acad. Dermatol., vol. 91, no. 1, pp. 1-10, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.08.020.

B. N. Green, C. D. Johnson, and A. Adams, "Writing narrative literature reviews for peer-reviewed journals: Secrets of the trade," J. Chiropr. Med., vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 101-117, Sep. 2006. doi: 10.1016/S0899-3467(07)60142-6.

E. Bülbül Başkan, S. Tunali, and Y. Ozkan, "A case of paraneoplastic pemphigus associated with pancreatic carcinoma," Turk. J. Dermatol., vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 67-70, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.turkiyeklinikleri.com.

R. Piscopo, M. Romano, A. D. Maria, R. Vinciguerra, and P. Vinciguerra, "Ocular onset of paraneoplastic pemphigus presenting as hyperemic conjunctivitis and massive bilateral eyelid ulceration: A case report and literature review," Ocul. Immunol. Inflamm., vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 265-268, 2018. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2016.1203958.

G. J. Anhalt, S. C. Kim, J. R. Stanley, et al., "Paraneoplastic pemphigus. An autoimmune mucocutaneous disease associated with neoplasia," N. Engl. J. Med., vol. 323, no. 25, pp. 1729-1735, Dec. 1990. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199012203232503.

A. L. Neimann, D. B. Shin, X. Wang, D. J. Margolis, A. B. Troxel, and J. M. Gelfand, "The effect of psoriasis on mortality and the role of systemic therapy: a population based cohort study," J. Invest. Dermatol., vol. 128, no. 6, pp. 1451-1459, Jun. 2008. doi: 10.1038/sj.jid.5701235.

"Paraneoplastic pemphigus: A comprehensive review of pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic challenges, and therapeutic approaches," Autoimmun. Rev., vol. 23, no. 8, p. 103567, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2024.103567.

"S2k guidelines on the management of paraneoplastic pemphigus/paraneoplastic autoimmune multiorgan syndrome," J. Eur. Acad. Dermatol. Venereol., vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 612-628, 2024. doi: 10.1111/jdv.19876

Published

2026-09-08

How to Cite

Castro Vásconez , N. P., Beltrán Vera , A. D., Rodríguez Aguinaga , S. N., Sacoto Abad , A. L., & Flores Ramón , D. N. (2026). Paraneoplastic Pemphigus Vulgaris Syndrome with orbital invasion, ectopic pancreas, and severe insulinitis: Autoimmune heterogeneity profile using scRNA-seq. ANNALS SCIENTIFIC EVOLUTION, 5(3), 2753–2767. https://doi.org/10.70577/ASCE/938.961/2025

Similar Articles

1 2 3 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Most read articles by the same author(s)