Linear IgA disease: cylindroma demonstrates heterogeneity of the target antigens.

Serum from 58 patients with linear IgA disease was tested by indirect immunofluorescence on the novel substrate cylindroma, which produces an abundance of basement membrane components. The use of split skin and of cylindroma has identified 2 target antigens. The majority of patients have a target antigen associated with epidermal cells and similar in distribution on cylindroma to hemidesmosome proteins. A minority have a dermal antigen with the distribution of collagen VII on cylindroma. These data support the hypothesis that linear IgA disease is a heterogeneous disease with regard to the target antigens.