Immunological characterization of fibrous protein isolated from human stratum corneum.

Specific antibody was produced against the purified fibrous protein isolated from human stratum corneum. Two precipitin lines appeared when the antiserum was tested against fibrous protein of human stratum corneum (FP/SC). When the section of human plantar skin was incubated with antihuman FP/SC serum for 30 min at 37 degrees C for indirect immunofluorescent studies, only a poor fluorescence could be detected in the living layers. The fluorescence in these layers increased on the section that was incubated with the fluorescence in these layers increased on the section that was incubated with the antiserum for 1 h at 37 degrees C. However, no fluorescence could be observed in the stratum corneum under these conditions. On the other hand, irregular fluorescence appeared in the stratum corneum after more prolonged incubation (2 h) with antiserum at 37 degrees C. The fluorescence also appeared in the stratum corneum when the section was incubated with antiserum for 30 min following a short pretreatment with urea-buffer. Identical precipitin lines were observed on double diffusion of anti-human FP/SC with prekeratin and 0.85% NaCl-Tris acetate buffer (pH 7.5) soluble proteins of human living layers.