TY - JOUR KW - Adult KW - Autoantibodies KW - Cells, Cultured KW - Colchicine KW - Cytoskeleton KW - Female KW - Fluorescent Antibody Technique KW - Humans KW - Intermediate Filaments KW - Keratins KW - leprosy KW - Vimentin AU - Frey F L AU - Gottlieb A B AU - Levis W R AB -

Sera from 34 patients with lepromatous leprosy were screened for the presence of autoantibodies by indirect immunofluorescence using two epithelial cell lines, PTK2 and HEp2, as substrates. Indirect immunofluorescence staining of both substrates with the serum of a patient with lepromatous leprosy revealed a cytoplasmic intermediate filament staining pattern. After exposure of PTK2 cells to colchicine, the filaments collapsed into thick perinuclear coils, confirming the presence of intermediate filament reactivity. Immunofluorescence of rat fibroblasts with the same serum also revealed an intermediate filamentous staining pattern. Human keratinocytes exposed to the patient's serum revealed a diffuse cytoplasmic staining pattern. Our study suggests the presence of autoantibodies to cytoskeletal intermediate filaments or to molecules associated with vimentin and possibly keratin subunit proteins in the serum of a patient with lepromatous leprosy.

BT - Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2453540?dopt=Abstract DA - 1988 May DO - 10.1016/s0190-9622(88)70120-6 IS - 5 Pt 2 J2 - J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. LA - eng N2 -

Sera from 34 patients with lepromatous leprosy were screened for the presence of autoantibodies by indirect immunofluorescence using two epithelial cell lines, PTK2 and HEp2, as substrates. Indirect immunofluorescence staining of both substrates with the serum of a patient with lepromatous leprosy revealed a cytoplasmic intermediate filament staining pattern. After exposure of PTK2 cells to colchicine, the filaments collapsed into thick perinuclear coils, confirming the presence of intermediate filament reactivity. Immunofluorescence of rat fibroblasts with the same serum also revealed an intermediate filamentous staining pattern. Human keratinocytes exposed to the patient's serum revealed a diffuse cytoplasmic staining pattern. Our study suggests the presence of autoantibodies to cytoskeletal intermediate filaments or to molecules associated with vimentin and possibly keratin subunit proteins in the serum of a patient with lepromatous leprosy.

PY - 1988 SP - 1179 EP - 84 T2 - Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology TI - A patient with lepromatous leprosy and anticytoskeletal antibodies. VL - 18 SN - 0190-9622 ER -