ABSTRACT
This chapter sets out the results of immunofluorescence (IF) studies on stratum corneum antibodies (SCAb) and stratum corneum antigens (SCAg). Indirect IF and complement indirect IF tests reveal that several epidermal, oral, and ocular mucosal tissues contain SCAg or a SCAg-like substance in keratinized areas or in the superficial desquamating cells of nonkeratinized tissues. The localization of SCAg on tongue and nail to the precise sites of potential psoriatic involvement lends further support to this interpretation. SCAb are immunoglobulins, primarily of the IgG and IgM class as evidenced by indirect IF and are capable of fixing complement as demonstrated by complement immunofluorescent studies. The elution studies performed on psoriatic scale reveals that antibodies reactive with water phase antigen are present in the scale in an immunologically bound form while SCAb as detected by indirect IF are present in the initial saline washes.
