Immunohistochemistry in cutaneous pathology

Since the first demonstration of skin antibodies in sera of pemphigus patients by IF (Beutner & Jordon 1964), the scope of skin diseases in which immunologic findings may be of interest has enormously enlarged and dermatology remains one of the leading clinical specialities applying IHC in both diagnosis and research. Immunohistological techniques and, to a lesser degree, immunocytological techniques, have been developed to include not only IF, but also immunoenzymatic methods. Even if not all immunological findings may be disease specific and diagnostic, immunohistological techniques have become a very useful tool for studying skin biopsies in connection with serological methods. Their importance could be increased with rapid development of a new field: the study of normal skin constituents; e.g. Ag, collagen, keratin, with the help of specific polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies.