Ro/SSA antigen in human epidermis.

It has been shown previously by an immunofluorescence technique, that whole serum from patients who have anti-Ro/SSA autoantibodies reacts with a component or components of the epidermis. We have now demonstrated by immunoblotting that the antigen identified in human epidermis by anti-Ro/SSA sera is Ro/SSA antigen, and that Ro/SSA antigen is present both in adult and in neonatal epidermis. The presence of this antigen in tissues which are injured in the anti-Ro/SSA-associated syndromes subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus and neonatal lupus erythematosus supports the hypothesis that anti-Ro/SSA antibodies react with Ro/SSA antigen in the skin and are important in the initiation of tissue damage.