Immunological studies on the relation between tonsil and pustulosis palmaris et plantaris

In order to clarify the relationship between the tonsils and pustulosis palmaris et plantaris (PPP), immunological investigations were performed focusing on keratin and antikeratin antibody. As materials, the tonsils, plantar skins and peripheral blood from the patients with PPP undergoing tonsillectomy were used. The results were summarized as follows: 1) Common keratin polypeptides reacting with monoclonal anti-keratin antibody were found both in the tonsillar epithelium and in the plantar skin. 2) High molecular weight keratin polypeptides were predominant in the tonsillar epithelium of the patients with PPP as in the plantar skin. 3) The antikeratin antibody titers in the sera of the patients with PPP were on a high level, and tended to decrease after tonsillectomy. 4) The antibody in the sera of the patients with PPP reacted with 67, 63 and 56 kd bands of keratin polypeptides. 5) The antikeratin antibody titers in the culture medium of the patients with PPP, especially in the tonsillar lymphocyte cultures, were on a high level. These results suggest the possibility that the keratin of the tonsillar epithelium and the antikeratin antibody in the serum may play an important role for pustule formation.