Anti-Leu 19 monoclonal antibody detects an antigen on autonomic nerves in human skin.

The monoclonal antibody anti-Leu 19 recognizes the NKH-1 antigen of active natural killer cells. In immunohistological preparations of the skin, the antibody reacts with cutaneous nerves and labels nerve fibers in the region of the sweat glands, the blood vessels and the hair arrector muscles. This staining pattern corresponds to the distribution of the autonomic sympathetic nervous system of the skin. On the other hand, anti-Leu 7 labels a myelin-associated glycoprotein which is to be found in the myelin sheath of sensory cutaneous nerves. The reactivity of neural structures of the skin can thus be differentiated. Anti-Leu 7 labels the myelinated sensory nervous system, whereas anti-Leu 19 seems to constitute a new marker for the autonomic nervous system of the skin.