Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Autoimmunity in psoriasis

A complement immunofluorescence study

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Archives of Dermatological Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The stratum corneum (SC) antibodies are present in all human sera as seen by indirect immunofluorescent (IF) staining. They appear to bind in vivo to the stratum corneum of psoriatic lesions. They fix complement in vitro in a two step complement IF test system using either anti C4 or anti C3 conjugates as indicators. IF tests with proper controls showed that the SC antigen in psoriatic scales is coated not only with IgG but in a majority of the lesions also with complement. In the present studies in fully developed lesions complement was detectable in 88% of the specimens studied and in about 50% of very fresh linear lesions of unintentional Köbner type. These as well as some previously published observations afford indirect evidence for the participation of SC antibodies and the ensuing fixation of complement in the development of psoriatic lesions.

Zusammenfassung

Antikörper gegen Stratum corneum (SC) befinden sich in Seren aller Menschen und können mittels der indirekten Immunofluorescenzmethode festgestellt werden. In Psoriasis-Herden scheinen sie in vivo im Stratum corneum fixiert zu sein. Sie fixieren Komplement in vitro, was man durch Komplement-Fixierungs-Tests unter Benutzung von anti C4 oder anti C3 Konjugaten beweisen kann. IF-Teste mit unterschiedlichen Kontrollen haben aufgezeigt, daß Stratum corneum als Antigen in Psoriasis-Läsionen nicht nur von IgG, sondern in der Mehrheit der Veränderungen auch von Komplement umgeben ist. In völlig entwickelten Läsionen wurde das Komplement in 88% der Biopsien festgestellt, weniger häufig — in ungefähr 50% — in sehr frühen linearen Hautveränderungen vom Typ des zufälligen Köbnerschen Phänomens. Diese und frühere Beobachtungen erbrigen einen indirekten Beweis, daß Antikörper SC an der Entstehung der Psoriasisherde teilnehmen, und die Komplementfixierung hier von Bedeutung sein könnte.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Krogh, H. K., Tönder, O.: Adherence of erythrocytes to stratum corneum of skin tissue sections. Int. Arch. Allergy 34, 170–180 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Krogh, H. K.: Role of complement in the adherence of erythrocytes to stratum corneum. Int. Arch. Allergy 34, 397–408 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Krogh, H. K.: Antibodies in human sera to stratum corneum. Int. Arch. Allergy 36, 415–426 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Krogh, H. K.: The occurrence of antibodies to stratum corneum in man. Int. Arch. Allergy 37, 649–659 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Krogh, H. K.: The antigen involved in immune adherence with stratum corneum and human serum. Int. Arch. Allergy 38, 78–92 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Krogh, H. K., Tönder, O.: Subcorneal pustular dermatosis. Pathogenetic aspects. Brit. J. Derm. 83, 429–434 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Krogh, H. K., Maeland, J. A., Tönder, O.: Indirect haemagglutination for demonstration of antibodies to stratum corneum of skin. Int. Arch. Allergy 42, 493–502 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Krogh, H. K., Tönder, O.: Immunoglobulins and antiimmunoglobulin factors in psoriatic lesions. Clin. Exp. Immunol. 10, 623–634 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Krogh, H. K., Tönder, O.: Antibodies in psoriatic scales. Scand. J. Immunol. 2, 45–51 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Maeland, J. A., Krogh, H. K., Tönder, O.: Heterogeneity of antigen from callus of man. Int. Arch. Allergy 46, 619–628 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Beutner, E. H., Jablonska, S., Jarzabek-Chorzelska, M., Maciejowska, E., Rzesa, G., Chorzelski, T. P.: Studies in immunodermatology. VI. IF studies of autoantibodies to the stratum corneum and of in vivo fixed IgG in stratum corneum of psoriatic scales. Int. Arch. Allergy 48, 301–323 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Jablonska, S., Chorzelski, T. P., Jarzabek-Chorzelska, M., Beutner, E. H.: Studies in immunodermatology. VII. Four compartment system studies of IgG in stratum corneum and of stratum corneum antigen in biopsies of psoriasis and control dermatoses. Int. Arch. Allergy 48, 324–340 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Krogh, H. K.: Antibodies to straum corneum in man. In: Immunopathology of the skin: Labeled antibody studies, p. 402–414, E. H. Beutner, T. P. Chorzelski, S. F. Bean, R. E. Jordon (Eds.). Stroudsburg, Pa: Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross 1973

    Google Scholar 

  14. Michel, B., Milner, Y., David, K.: Preservation of tissue fixed immunoglobulins in skin biopsies of patients with lupus erythematosus and bullous diseases. Preliminary report. J. invest. Derm. 59, 449–452 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hale, W. L., Beutner, E. H.: Comparison of two buffer solutions as transport media for immunofluorescent (IF) studies of epithelial tissue with in vivo bound gamma globulin. ASM Meetings, April 1975 (Abstr.)

  16. Beutner, E. H., Nisengrad, R. J.: Defined immunofluorescence in clinical immunopathology. In: Immunopathology of the skin: Labeled antibody studies, p. 197–247, E. H. Beutner, T. P. Chorzelski, S. F. Bean, R. E. Jordon (Eds.). Stroudsburg, Pa.: Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross 1973

    Google Scholar 

  17. Diaz Gill, G. A., Beutner, E. H., Eisenberg, R.: Quantitative studies of immunofluorescent staining. VI. Defined complement immunofluorescent staining for antinuclear antibodies in systemic lupus and other collagen diseases. Int. Arch. Allergy 45, 868–879 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Kawamura, A., Mizuoka, K., Matuhasi, T., Fukuoka, Y.: Methods used in Japan for FTA-ABS tests (fluorescent treponemal antibody test). In: Immunopathology of the skin: Labeled antibody studies, p. 424–445, E. H. Beutner, T. P. Chorzelski, S. F. Bean, R. E. Jordon (Eds.). Stroudsburg, Pa: Dowdon, Hutchinson and Ross 1973

    Google Scholar 

  19. Fukuyama, K., Epstein, W. L.: Synthesis of RNA and protein during epidermal cell differentiation in man. Arch. Derm. 98, 75–79 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Fukuyama, K., Epstein, W. L.: Comparative autoradiographic study of keratohyalin granules containing cystine and histidine. J. Ultrastr. Res. 51, 314–325 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Fukuyama, K., Epstein, W. L.: Heterogenous proteins in keratohyalin granules studied by quantitative autoradiography. J. invest. Derm. (In press)

  22. Pinkus, H.: Psoriasiform tissue reactions. Aust. J. Derm. 8, 31–35 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Pinkus, H.: Lichenoid tissue reactions. Arch. Derm. 107, 840–846 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Beutner, E. H., Chorzelski, T. P., Jordon, R. E.: Autoimmunity in pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid. Springfield, Ill.: Charles Thomas 1970

    Google Scholar 

  25. Jordon, R. E., Sams, W. M., Diaz, G. A., Beutner, E. H.: Negative complement immunofluorescence in pemphigus. J. invest. Derm. 57, 407–410 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Cormane, R. H., Chorzelski, T. P.: “Bound” complement in the epidermis of patients with pemphigus vulgaris. Dermatologica (Basel) 134, 463–466 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  27. van Joost, Th., Cormane, R. H., Pondman, K. W.: Direct immunofluorescent study of the skin on occurrence of complement in pemphigus. Brit. J. Derm. 87, 466–474 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Jarzabek, M.: Passive transfer of pemphigus with human sera. Doctoral Thesis (in Polish), Warsaw, Poland 1970

  29. Beutner, E. H., Chorzelski, T. P.: Experimental studies on autosensitization in bullous diseases and on transfer of pemphigus. In: Immunopathology of the skin: Labeled antibody studies, p. 330–353, E. H. Beutner, T. P. Chorzelski, S. F. Bean and R. E. Jordon (Eds.). Stroudsburg, Pa: Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross 1973

    Google Scholar 

  30. Witebsky, E.: Ehrlich's side-chain theory in the light of present immunology. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 59, 168–181 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Burnet, F. M.: The clonal selection theory of aquired immunity. Cambridge Univ. Press, London (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Boyden, S.: Pathology. Autoimmunity and inflammation. Nature 201, 200–201 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Grabar, P.: Hypothesis. Autoantibodies and immunological theories: An analytical review. Clin. Immun. Immunopath. 4, 453–466 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Suny at Buffalo, Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, 14214, Buffalo, New York, USA

    Ernst H. Beutner

  2. Department of Dermatology, Warsaw Academy of Medicine, 02-008, Warsaw, Poland

    Maria Jarzabek-Chorzelska, Stefania Jablonska, Tadeusz P. Chorzelski & Genowefa Rzęsa

Authors
  1. Ernst H. Beutner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Maria Jarzabek-Chorzelska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Stefania Jablonska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tadeusz P. Chorzelski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Genowefa Rzęsa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This study was supported by grants from the Summerhill Foundation and from the Polish Academy of Sciences No. 10.5

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Beutner, E.H., Jarzabek-Chorzelska, M., Jablonska, S. et al. Autoimmunity in psoriasis. Arch Dermatol Res 261, 123–134 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00447157

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00447157

Keywords

Search

Navigation