Autoantibodies to an epidermal protease inhibitor in skin diseases

Solid phase radioimmunoassay for measurement of autoantibodies in human sera to an epidermal protein is presented. The protein purified from normal human epidermis is inhibitory to SH-dependent protease and its molecular weight is about 13,000. Antibodies were detected in 139 of the 4,400 sera collected from dermatological patients. Most of the patients suffered from wide-spread eczematous conditions. It is suggested that the antibodies are secondary to the inflammatory conditions, but they may exacerbate or delay the course of the disease.