Epidermal Cell Membrane as the Origin of Pemphigus Antigen

Abstract

The substance bound to the pemphigus antibody (P‐Ab), pemphigus antigen, was removed from the surface of the keratinocytes of both human and guinea pigs with high concentrations of trypsin. When keratinocytes were cultured for more than 24 hours, the antigen reappeared on the surface. Furthermore, P‐Ab was recovered from the P‐Ab treated cultured cells by acid treatment. Cell membranes were prepared from human keratinocytes in order to determine whether or not the antigen was situated on their surface. The antigen was also detected on the surface of the cell membrane. As the membrane was found to be able to absorb P‐Ab, the antigen was extracted from the membrane by papain digestion and P‐Ab coated Sepharose column chromatography. The eluate from the column was also able to block P‐Ab activity. At the same time, the culture supernatant of both human and guinea pig keratinocytes was examined for its ability to block P‐Ab activity. The culture supernatant showed a slight ability to block P‐Ab. The origin and nature of the antigen was discussed.

Desmosomes in pemphigus vegetans

“…Lack of median lines of desmosomes is a striking sign of the defectivc dcsmosomes. Serum globulin of pemphigus vulgaris patients can bind to epithelial cell membranes (6) the pem phigus antigen being in the keratinocyte cell mem brane ( 13). Previous investigators have produced single-sided desmosomes, identical with those found in the present study.…”