Pemphigus foliaceus associated with absence of intercellular antigens in lower layers of epidermis

A patient with pemphigus foliaceus was found to lack normal intercellular (IC) antigens in the lower layers of the epidermis. This was evidenced by the inability of her own IC antibodies, or of those from other patients with pemphigus vulgaris, to bind to the IC substance in the lower layers of her epidermis; whereas these same antibodies reacted to IC antigens in all layers of normal allogeneic skin and monkey and guinea pig esophagus. Lack of IC antigens in the lower layers of the epidermis may account for the subcorneal location of bullae in some patients with pemphigus foliaceus.