Three monoclonal antibodies differentiate human from murine epidermis

In order to establish a set of epidermal species markers, normal human skin, murine skin and human skin transplanted to nude mice were stained with monoclonal antibodies directed to cell membrane-bound carbohydrates, a basement membrane component and a structure in the cell nucleus. Three epidermal species markers were identified. Two markers stained exclusively human epidermis: LH7.2 detects type VII collagen and stained the basement membrane of human epidermis in unfixed frozen sections, while LP4N stained cell nuclei in human epidermis in methanol-acetone-fixed frozen sections. The third marker, HH14, stained exclusively murine epidermis. HH14 defines the histo-blood group H carbohydrate antigen and stained spinous cell membranes of murine epidermis in both frozen and formalin-fixed sections.