Epidermal Cytoplasmic Antigens: II. Concurrent Presence of Antigens of Different Specificities in Normal Human Skin

Abstract

Cytoplasmic antigens of 3 different specificities are expressed concurrently in the epidermis of normal human skin. They differ by their location in distinct layers of the epidermis. One type is present in all epidermal cells, another only in cells of the superficial layers, and the third only in basal cells. All 3 antigens were present in 10 specimens of normal human skin. The superficial and basal cell antigens were absent in 4 basal cell epitheliomas and 3 squamous cell carcinomas. This finding, together with the stratification of the antigens in different layers of the skin, suggests epidermal cytoplasmic antigens are differentiation antigens.

Human upper epidermal cytoplasmic antibodies are directed against keratin intermediate filament proteins.

“…The skin disorders, in which upper cytoplasmic (U-Cyt)' antibodies are described, include blistering dermatoses such as pemphigus vul-' Abbreviations used in this paper: DTT, dithiothreitol; HRP, horseradish peroxidase; HMW, high molecular weight; KIF, keratin intermediate filaments; PAGE, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; TBS, Tris-buffered saline; U-Cyt, upper cytoplasmic; WB, washing buffer. garis, bullous pemphigoid, and dermatitis herpetiformis as well as basal cell carcinomas and melanomas (1,2,4,5). A high incidence of U-Cyt antibodies was also found in the sera of patients undergoing bone marrow transplants and patients with pulmonary and gastrointestinal neoplasms (2,3).…”

“…Antibodies directed against cytoplasmic antigens of normal keratinocytes have been known for many years to be present in some normal sera as well as in the sera of patients with various cutaneous and noncutaneous diseases (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). Using the technique of indirect immunofluorescence it has been shown that one type of antigen(s) is present only in the cells of the upper layers of the human epidermis.…”

Purification of natural antikeratin autoantibodies from normal human serum and their effect on human keratinocytes cultured in vitro

“…ELISA and semiquantitative IIF have shown that serum titres of IgM and IgG AK autoantibodies vary independently in normal persons 7 . AK autoantibodies show various immunofluorescence staining patterns in the epidermis, and recognize different keratin subunits on Western blot analysis 5,6 , 22 . In IIF studies, murine AK autoantibodies show cytoplasmic staining in both murine and human epidermis, 15 while human antibodies stain keratinocytes in human, dog and guinea pig epidermis, 9 indicating the poor species specificity of AK autoantibodies.…”

“…7 AK autoantibodies show various immunofluorescence staining patterns in the epidermis, and recognize different keratin subunits on Western blot analysis. 5,6,22 In IIF studies, murine AK autoantibodies show cytoplasmic staining in both murine and human epidermis, 15 while human antibodies stain keratinocytes in human, dog and guinea pig epidermis, 9 indicating the poor species specificity of AK autoantibodies. Using the technique of hybridoma, it has been established that B cells producing AK autoantibodies commonly exist in naive, non-immunized mice, 15 which is in line with the latest findings on the mechanism of generation of NAAs.…”

Epidermis and thymus. similar antigenic properties in hassall's corpuscle and subsets of keratinocytes

“…It has recently been shown that not all keratinocytes in the epidermis express the same cytoplasmic antigens: basal cells were found to have antigenic properties distinct from those of Correspondence Tagikawa, Imamura & Ofuji (1977) Sun& Green (1978); Sun (1979) *Not confirmed in our study (see Table 2). uppet layer cells (Bystryn, Nash & Robins, 1978;Saurat era/., 1976Saurat era/., ,1978cSaurat, Gluckman & Didierjean, 1977b;Saurat, Didier)eati& Gluckman, i97Sa). These findings have been interpreted as evidence that cytoplasmic antigens of keratinocytes are tissue specific antigens (Bystryn et al, 1978;Saurat et al, 1978b, c).…”