ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief overview of the types of immunofluorescent (IF) staining techniques used in studies of lesions of psoriasis and of the autoantibodies implicated in its pathogenesis. It focuses on the biochemical and immunochemical characteristics of the fluorescein labeled immunoglobulin preparations used as conjugates in IF staining and other types of fluorescent staining reactions obtained. The specificity of conjugates specified by manufacturers is generally based on immunoelectrophoretic studies. Since the specific antibody activity of conjugates deteriorate at variable rates even when stored in a lyophilized state, it is necessary to perform periodic checks. Several special techniques have proven to be particularly useful in IF studies on the role of stratum corneum antibodies in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The difference between the direct and indirect IF staining reactions of the stratum corneum of psoriatic lesions can be used as a measure of the degree of saturation of stratum corneum with in vivo bound IgG.
