title: Antibodies to human epidermal cytoplasmic antigens: incidence, patterns, and titers.
abstract: Serum or plasma specimens were assayed in indirect immunfluorescence tests on cryostat sections of normal human skin for the presence and titer of antibodies reactive with human epidermal cytoplasmic antigens. A polyvalent fluorescein-labeled goat anti-human immunoglobulin antiserum was used in all tests. Three distinct staining patterns were noted: upper epidermal cytoplasmic fluorescence, U-CYT, produced by antibodies reactive with antigen present in cells of the upper and middle layers of the epidermis; general cytoplasmic fluorescence, G-CYT, produced by antibodies reactive with antigens present in cells throughout the epidermis; and basal cell cytoplasmic fluorescence, BCL, produced by antibodies reactive with components present only in basal cells. Sera from 8% of 52 normal blood donors produced the U-CYT pattern at dilutions greater than 1:10. The incidence of antibodies reactive with epidermal cytoplasmic antigens in patients with a clinical history of not more than 2 basal cell carcinomas of the skin was 5%, compared to an incidence of 89% in those individuals with 3 or more separate instances of skin neoplasms. There was no difference in the frequency with which cryosurgery was used in the treatment of skin neoplasms in either of these 2 groups. Antibodies to epidermal cytoplasmic antigens were also detected in 10% of patients with nondermatologic, nonpulmonary neoplasms, in 43% of patients with pulmonary neoplasms and in 1 of 11 patient with nonneoplastic diseases. Positive sera yielded titers ranging from 1:16 to 1:1024. The most common staining patterns noted in all of these cases were the U-CYT and G-CYT patterns; the BCL staining pattern was noted in only one instance.
mesh_terms: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D003452:Cryosurgery; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies