Enzyme immunoassay of antibodies to epithelial glycoprotein: increased level of antibodies in coeliac disease.

From the papules of a patient with massive cutaneous hyalinosis, we earlier isolated a mannose-rich glycoprotein that, by immunohistochemical methods, was also shown to be present in epithelial cells of small intestine and normal skin. A solid-phase enzyme immunoassay of IgG and IgM antibodies to this epithelial glycoprotein is described, in which polystyrene tubes are coated with the purified antigen. The antibodies are allowed to bind, and are detected with alkaline phosphatase-conjugated anti-human IgG and IgM. IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies were determined in the sera of patients with pemphigus, pemphigoid, dermatitis herpetiformis, several autoimmune diseases, in a patient with massive cutaneous hyalinosis, in coeliac disease, and in control subjects. Very high values were found in the patient with massive cutaneous hyalinosis, and significantly elevated values in coeliac disease. In the other patient groups values were equal to or only slightly higher than in controls.