A human monoclonal antibody reacting with Merkel cells: immunofluorescence, immunoperoxidase, and immunoelectron microscopy.
A human monoclonal, mu, kappa, cold agglutinin antibody of the rare specificity Pr h (serum and proper eluates) was used in immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques and in immunoelectron microscopy on rabbit lip specimens. Pr h antibody strongly reacted with scattered cells in epidermis, which were demonstrated to be Merkel cells by electron microscopy; no nerve fibers were stained. In immunoelectron microscopy (IEM), a strong reaction was seen within the cytoplasm and around the granules. This is the first IEM staining of Merkel cells (MC) so far reported; it demonstrates the expression of a carbohydrate differentiation antigen in MC. The availability of a potent monoclonal antibody reacting with MC but not with neighboring epidermal cells in rabbit lip offers a new tool for the study of several aspects of MC biology, including antigenic properties and kinetics.
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011817:Rabbits
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal