Demonstration of epidermis-specific heteroantigens in thymic epithelial cells

Heterologous anti-epidermal cell serum was obtained by immunizing rabbits with enzymatically dispersed, viable epidermal cells of guinea pigs, followed by absorption of the antiserum with red blood cells (sheep and guinea pig), lymphoid cells and liver powder (guinea pig). Immunofluorescence demonstrated that the antiserum reacted specifically with stratified squamous epithelial cells and thymus epithelial cells including Hassall's bodies of the guinea pig, monkey and man. It is suggested that the epithelial cells of the skin and thymus have common heteroantigens.

IgA deficiency and systemic lupus erythematosus. Occurrence in an oriental woman with idiopathic epilepsy

A 25-year-old Oriental woman developed systemic lupus erythematosus during a course of treatment with carbamazepine for long-standing idiopathic epilepsy. Serum IgA was virtually absent, while secretory IgA was quantitated in a small amount in the saliva and gastric juice. Results of immunofluorescent studies on the rectal mucosa and bone marrow did not show any IgA-producing plasma cells. Antibodies against IgA, IgM, milk protein, and bovine serum were detected in the serum. The ability to develop both circulating antibodies and delayed hypersensitivity against test antigens was suppressed. Enumerations of T lymphocytes and IgG and IgM B lymphocytes were within normal limits, whereas IgA B lymphocytes were decreased in number. Results of chromosomal analyses disclosed various abnormalities.

Pemphigus-like antibodies in dermatitis herpetiformis

Pemphigus-like antibodies were demonstrated in a patient with dermatitis herpetiformis. The patient was a 28-year-old Japanese who showed itchy tense bullae on the back, chest and shoulders. We speculate the antibodies are similar to those found in burns, drug eruptions and certain other skin diseases.

Treatment of vitiligo with oral corticosteroids

17 patients with generalized vitiligo and 5 patients with localized vitiligo were treated with oral corticosteroids. Six patients with generalized vitiligo showed over 75% repigmentation in at least one of the patches. Two patients with generalized vitiligo and 1 patient with localized vitiligo showed a partial repigmentation of 25-75%, while 5 patients with generalized vitiligo and 1 patient with localized vitiligo showed a minimal repigmentation of less than 25%. Four patients with generalized vitiligo and 3 patients with localized vitiligo failed to respond. Repigmentation became evident within 4 weeks in most cases, and in general was more markedly noted in exposed areas.

Coexistence of peculiar pemphigus, myasthenia gravis and malignant thymoma

An unusual vesculobullous disease and myasthenia gravis occurred concurrently with a malignant thymoma in a Japanese male. The bullous dermatosis had combined clinical and histological features of both dermatitis herpetiformis and pemphigus. Serum showed striated muscle antibodies and intercellular epithelial autoantibodies; the latter had been demonstrated even prior to the development of the skin lesions. Thus, immunologically, this dermatosis was confirmed to be a variety of pemphigus.

The localization and distribution of gram-positive cocci in normal skin and in lesions of acne vulgaris

The localization of gram-positive cocci in the normal skin and in the lesions of acne vulgaris was investigated using fluorescein-labeled antiserum raised to gram-positive, coagulase-negative cocci. The cocci were found in 10 of 19 specimens from normal facial skin and in 3 of 11 specimens from the normal skin of the rest of the body. The bacteria were found mostly in the openings of follicles, but in 6 of 10 facial skin specimens, they were also present deeply in the lumina of the dilated sebaceous follicles near the sebaceous glands. Cocci were found in 5 of 6 noninflammatory acne comedones. In inflammatory acne they were demonstrated not only in the follicular canals but also sparsely in the infiltrate surrounding the follicles.

Use of immunofluorescence staining in kerion

We describe two cases of kerion caused by Trichophyton rebrum and Microsporum gypseum. In the histological sections, a PAS stain revealed a small number of hypha-like rods and spore-like round bodies in the dermis of patient 1. Except for some clusters of PAS-positive materials, no definite fungal elements were observed in the dermis of patient 1, whereas a considerable number of hyphae were demonstrated within a hair shaft. Immunofluorescence staining, using fluorescein-labeled T mentagrophytes antiserum, disclosed the presence of fungal antigens, not only within a hair shaft, but also in the inflammatory infiltrate in the dermis of both patients.