Summary
Antibodies to epidermal cytoplasmic antigens were detected by the indirect immunofluorescence (IF) technique in 36% of 100 adult healthy subjects and in 17.6% of 17 normal newborn infants. This type of autoantibody occurred in 33% of 100 cases with vitiligo, in 32.5% of 40 cases with psoriasis, in 55.3% of patients with malignant tumours and in 72.7% of subjects with malignant melanoma. The frequency of the autoimmune reactions was statistically significant only in patients with malignant neoplasms. In the majority of positive cases the IF pattern involved the upper layers of the epidermal cells (U-CYT). The basal layers was generally negative. Only a few cases showed a pattern involving both the upper and the basal layers (G-CYT). However, a wide variation in staining was noted when sera were tested on different skin specimens or different sections of the same skin. To identify the nature of the target antigen(s), absorption experiments of sera were attempted with lyophilized and particulate antigens. Animal and human blood cells and lyophilized homogenates of malignant tumours failed to absorb the autoimmune activity of positive sera. Only a powder preparation of keratin induced a decrease in antibody titres. It is postulated that they are the result of an antigenic stimulation by exogenous substances commonly present in the environment.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abel E. A., Bystryn J. C.: Epidermal Cytoplasmic Antibodies: Incidence and Type in Normal Persons and Patients with Melanoma — J. invest. Derm.66, 44, 1976.
Ackermann-Schopf C., Ackermann R., Terasaki P. I., Levy J.: Natural and Acquired Epidermal Autoantibodies in Man — J. Immunol.112, 2063, 1974.
Beutner E. H., Jordon R. E.: Demonstration of Skin Antibodies in Sera ofpemphigus vulgaris Patients by Indirect Immunofluorescent Staining — Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. (N.Y.)117, 505, 1964.
Beutner E. H., Lever W. F., Witebsky E., Jordon R. E., Chertock B.: Autoantibodies inpemphigus vulgaris — J. Amer. med. Ass.192, 682, 1965.
Beutner E. H., Rhodes E. L., Holborow E. J.: Autoimmunity in Chronic Bullous Skin Diseases — Clin. exp. Immunol.2, 141, 1967.
Böyum A.: Separation of Leukocytes from Blood and Bone Marrow — Scand. J. clin. Lab. Invest.21 (Suppl. 97), 1, 1968.
Burnham T. K.: Two Epidermal Cytoplasmic Immunofluorescent Patterns Detected by Indirect Immunofluorescence — J. invest. Derm.62, 100, 1974.
Bystryn J. C., Abel E. A., Weidman A.: Antibodies against the Cytoplasm of Human Epidermal Cells — Arch. Derm.108, 241, 1973.
Holborow E. J., Hemsted E. H., Mead S. W.: Smooth Muscle Antibodies in Infectious Mononucleosis — Brit. med. J.iii, 323, 1973.
Jordon R. E., Beutner E. H., Witebsky E., Blumenthal G., Hale W. L., Lever W. F.: Basement Zone Antibodies in Bullous Pemphigoid — J. Amer. med. Ass.200, 751, 1967.
Roitt I. M., Doniach D.: Manual of Autoimmune Serology — WHO, Geneva, 1969; p. 1.
Saurat J. H., Bonnet Blanc J. M., Gluckman E., Didierjean L., Bussel A., Puissant A.: Skin Antibodies in Bone Marrow Transplanted Patients — Clin. exp. Derm.1, 377, 1976.
Thivolet J., Beyvin A. J.: Recherche par immunofluorescence de autoanticorps sériques vis-à-vis des constituents de l’épiderme chez les brûlés — Experientia (Basel)24, 945, 1968.
Van Joost T.: Incidence of Circulating Antibodies Reactive with Basal Cells of Skin in Drug Reaction — Acta derm.-vener. (Stockh.)54, 183, 1974.
Wasserman J., Glas U., Blomgren H.: Antibodies in Patients with Carcinoma of the Breast: Correlation with Prognosis — Clin. exp. Immunol.19, 417, 1975.
Whitehouse J. M. A., Holborow E. J.: Smooth Muscle Antibody in Malignant Disease — Brit. med. J.iv, 511, 1971.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was supported in part by CNR, Rome, grant no. 75.00465.04.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Betterle, C., Peserico, A., Bersani, G. et al. Epidermal cytoplasmic antibodies. La Ricerca Clin. Lab. 7, 242–251 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02881820
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02881820