ABSTRACT
Antibodies with specificity for intercellular or cell membrane antigens in stratum corneum (SC) are ubiquitous in normal sera. Originally SC antibodies were detected by immune adherence with tissue sections of human skin and later by indirect hemagglutination and immunofluorescence methods. For the demonstration of SC antibodies, cryostat sections from the human sole is most suitable, using the closed chamber technique. The techniques with tissue sections are not well suited for the quantitative determination of SC antibodies and serological characterization of the SC antigens. The SC antigens involved are not extractable by aqueous media, and more drastic chemical procedures are required for their release from SC. The presence of SC antibodies in all normal human sera has has been demonstrated by immune adherence and mixed agglutination with tissue sections and verified by the indirect hemagglutination test with sheep erythrocytes sensitized with SC antigen.
