Tissue and species specificity of an antiserum to human oral epithelial cells

Antisera raised in rabbits against human gingival epithelial cells were examined for tissue specificity using an indirect fluorescent-antibody technique and tissues from human fetal, adult guinea-pig, rat and rabbit tissues. The antisera reacted with the intercellular material of stratified squamous epithelia and the basement membrane zone of a variety of tissues of the human and animal tissues examined. The basement membrane zone reactivity was ascribed to the presence of antibodies to fibronectin in the antiserum. The antisera reacted with the epithelial cells and Hassalls corpuscles of the fetal thymus but not with fetal thyroid tissue.