Antibodies to Human Epidermal Cytoplasmic Antigens: Incidence, Patterns, and Titers

Abstract

Serum or plasma specimens were assayed in indirect immunfluorescence tests on cryostat sections of normal human skin for the presence and titer of antibodies reactive with human epidermal cytoplasmic antigens. A polyvalent fluorescein-labeled goat anti-human immunoglobulin antiserum was used in all tests. Three distinct staining patterns were noted: upper epidermal cytoplasmic fluorescence, U-CYT, produced by antibodies reactive with antigen present in cells of the upper and middle layers of the epidermis; general cytoplasmic fluorescence, G-CYT, produced by antibodies reactive with antigens present in cells throughout the epidermis; and basal cell cytoplasmic fluorescence, BCL, produced by antibodies reactive with components present only in basal cells. Sera from 8% of 52 normal blood donors produced the U-CYT pattern at dilutions greater than 1:10. The incidence of antibodies reactive with epidermal cytoplasmic antigens in patients with a clinical history of not more than 2 basal cell carcinomas of the skin was 5%, compared to an incidence of 89% in those individuals with 3 or more separate instances of skin neoplasms. There was no difference in the frequency with which cryosurgery was used in the treatment of skin neoplasms in either of these 2 groups. Antibodies to epidermal cytoplasmic antigens were also detected in 10% of patients with nondermatologic, nonpulmonary neoplasms, in 43% of patients with pulmonary neoplasms and in 1 of 11 patient with nonneoplastic diseases. Positive sera yielded titers ranging from 1:16 to 1:1024. The most common staining patterns noted in all of these cases were the U-CYT and G-CYT patterns; the BCL staining pattern was noted in only one instance.

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.…”

“…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). The exact nature of the antigens U-Cyt antibodies are directed against has been unknown.…”

Expression of the Antigens Recognized by Monoclonal Antibodies to Human Amnion (GB4, GB9, GB11) on the Rabbit Eye during Embryonic Development

“…It is well accepted that cells at different differentiation stages express different antigens which can be rec ognized by autologous or heterologous anti bodies [4,5]. However, due to the lack of specific antibodies to the ocular tissues, us ing antigens as cell differentiation markers to study eye development has rarely been performed.…”

Quantitation of autoantibodies to cytokeratins in sera from patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus

“…In fact, autoantibodies to epidermal cytokeratins seem to be a common phenomenon in human sera. Studies have shown that most, though not all, human antiepidermal antibodies are directed against cytokeratin polypeptides characteristic of the basal, suprabasal and stratum corneum cell layers (Abel & Bystryn, 1976;Paluch & Bloch, 1982;Hintner et al, 1983;Iwatsuki et al, 1986).…”