title: Detection and partial characterization of a midlamina lucida-hemidesmosome-associated antigen (19-DEJ-1) present within human skin.
abstract: A murine anti-human monoclonal antibody (19-DEJ-1) has been produced that binds to basement membranes (BMs) of the dermoepidermal junction and arrector pili muscles but not to either dermal glandular or vascular BMs. 19-DEJ-1 also recognizes BMs underneath epithelia of buccal mucosa, tongue, esophagus, cervix, and cornea, and BMs surrounding smooth muscle in medium-sized vessels, placenta, uterus, and esophagus. When 16 human fetal skins (aged 54-142 gestational days) were examined, the antigen was first detected at 81 days. Using immunoperoxidase and immunogold staining techniques, indirect immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated localization of 19-DEJ-1 to the level of the midlamina lucida, directly underneath hemidesmosomes; absent staining was noted beneath melanocytes. 19-DEJ-1 antigen was detectable in unfixed A431 cells grown on coverslips. After radioincorporation of 35S-methionine into A431 cells, 19-DEJ-1 monoclonal antibody specifically precipitated 2.75% of the total radiolabeled proteoglycans produced in culture supernatant and isolated by anion exchange chromatography. On the basis of our present findings, we conclude that 19-DEJ-1 monoclonal antibody defines a unique primate-specific proteoglycan that is present within BMs along the epithelial-connective tissue interface and around smooth muscle in skin and other selected organs. Its unique ultrastructural localization suggests the possibility that 19-DEJ-1 may recognize an antigenic epitope of either anchoring filaments or alternatively, the subbasal dense plate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama, Birmingham School of Medicine 35294.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fine
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Horiguchi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jester
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Couchman
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003896:Desmosomes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000032:analysis*; D012867:Skin / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000941:Antigens; D011509:Proteoglycans