Studies in immunodermatology. IX. Effect of organic solvents and enzymes on the reactivity of stratum corneum antigens.

Explants of normal skin fail to react in direct immunofluorescence tests with stratum corneum antibodies. However, upon stripping with cellophane tape, the horny layer of such explants react in tissue culture. Swabbing of skin explants with ether and chloroform converts stratum corneum antigen (SCAg) from a nonreactive to a reactive form. Treatment with methanol, acetone or phosphate-buffered saline failed to bring about such a conversion. Treatment of skin explants with hyaluronidase and phosphilipase A converst SCAg of at least some skin explants to a reactive form. Treatment with trypsin, chymotrypsin and plasmin abolished the reactivity of SCAg upon prolonged incubation. However, upon short incubation with plasmin, SCAg was converted to a reactive form.