Screening and differentiation test for detection of skin-specific antibodies.
Indication: bullous autoimmune dermatoses.
Initial dilution 1 : 10; conjugate class anti-human IgG, FITC-labelled.
The BIOCHIP Mosaic consists of 6 substrates: primate oesophagus, salt-split skin, desmoglein-1-expressing cells, desmoglein-3-expressing cells, BP230-expressing cells (gc) and BP180-NC16A-4X (EUROPLUS). Thus a comprehensive antigen spectrum is available in a single analysis, allowing targeted serological diagnosis.
Antibodies against prickle cell desmosomes react with surface antigens of keratinocytes. Tissue sections of oesophagus and tongue show a granular fluorescence of the intercellular matter in the whole stratum spinosum, but differentiation between desmoglein 1 and desmoglein 3 is difficult. When specific transfected cells are employed in addition, a targeted diagnosis in a single test run is possible.
Antibodies against basal membrane structures react with salt-split skin. Anti-BP180, anti-BP230 and anti-LAD97 cause staining of the epidermal side, and antibodies against laminin 5, collagen type VII and other antigens staining of the dermal side of the salt-split skin.
When autoantibodies against BP180 or BP230 are present, the epidermal basement membrane in the oesophagus or tongue is visible as a fine linear colouring between the stratum basale and the connective tissue. These antibodies can be differentiated by means of BP180-NC16A-4X coated BIOCHIPs and cells specifically transfected with BP230 (globular C-terminal domain (gC)).
This BIOCHIP Mosaic can be customised with further substrates if required, e.g. tongue (antibodies against prickle cell desmosomes, epidermal basement membrane), bladder (antibodies against plakins), collagen type VII NCI-expressing cells.
