Immunoglobulins and anti-immunoglobulin factors in psoriatic lesions

Abstract

The mixed agglutination technique with tissue sections has been applied to psoriatic lesions using different indicator cell systems. Sections from all of twenty-five patients contained immunoglobulins of IgG and IgM classes in the epidermis. Apparently the maximum concentration was around the dermal-epidermal junction and above the dermal papillae. Anti-Ig activity consistent with rheumatoid factor of various Ig classes was also present at these sites. The anti-IgG factors were eluted from the sections by acid buffer. Such sections would again absorb anti-IgG factors whereby the reaction with sensitized cells was reconstituted. Presumably, firmly bound antigen–antibody complexes appear in psoriatic lesions and anti-IgG in serum combine with the Fc-portion of the IgG in these complexes. Use of fixatives in the preparation of tissue sections prevented the reactions.