ANTIGENIC SPECIFICITY OF ANTIBODIES FROM PATIENTS WITH LINEAR BASEMENT-MEMBRANE DEPOSITION OF IGA

We reviewed the immunoreactivity of sera binding to the epidermal side of basement membrane split skin from 13 adults and 8 children with Ig A alone, 9 adults with IgA and IgG and 7 adults with IgA and ocular pe mphigoid. Immunoblots were done against previously described 45-, 97-, 180- and 230-kD antigens, and reactivity was confirmed by elution of antibody from nitrocellulose and binding to the basement membrane. Ten of 13 adults and 7 of 8 children reacted with the 97-kD antigen. Sera with both IgA and IgG reacted in varying patterns and on occasion wit h more than 1 antigen. Ail 7 patients with ocular cicatricial pemphigo id reacted uniquely with a 45-kD antigen.