Studies in Immunodermatology

Abstract

Normal human sera contain stratum corneum (SC) antibodies to two biochemically distinct antigens of normal skin as demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence (IF) staining with selectively absorbed sera. Absorption of normal human sera with ground callus removed the SC antibodies reactive with the horny layer of normal skin but did not affect the SC antibody titers on cut edges of trypsin-digested callus or lesions of monkey skin induced by scratching. Conversely, absorption of the same sera with a carbohydrate-type SC antigen reduced SC antibody titers on the cut edges of trypsin-digested callus and on lesions of monkey skin induced by scratching but did not alter titers of SC antibodies on normal skin sections.