Experimental production of antibodies against stratum corneum keratin polypeptides.

Anti-keratin polypeptide sera (K.P.S) were obtained by immunizing guinea pigs with fibrous proteins from stratum corneum, which were acquired from normal human epidermis by m eans of S.D.S. polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. After absorption with red blood cells and liver powder the sera were tested by indirect immunofluorescence technique on different substrates. Antibodies against polypeptides P1 and P2 of M.W. 67,000 and 62,000 dalton, respectively, were directed toward cytoplasmic Ag of keratinocytes of spinous and graunular layer of normal human and rabbit epidermis. No labeling could be detected in the basal cell layer. This finding is in favor of various differentiation stages of the keratinizing cells. P3 of M.W. 53,000 dalton induced low titre anibodies which labelled the whole epidermis, including the basal cell layer. The fourth polypeptide of M.W. 49,000 dalton seemed not to be immunogenic in such experiences. In tumors, such as basal cell carcinom,a squamous cell carcinoma, and warts, the expression of keratin antigens is markedly diminished. No analogy could be drawn between experimental keratin polypeptide antibodies and the human epidermal cytoplasmic antibodies which were detected in some patient sera.