Detection of anti-intercellular cement substance and anti-basement membrane zone antibodies by radioimmunoassay using SCaBER tumour cell line as substrate.

IgG autoantibodies present in the serum of pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid patients were detected by a solid phase radioimmunoassay, using a squamous cell tumour line, SCaBER, as substrate. This preliminary study shows that the SCaBER cell line displays both pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid antigens. This source of antigens should allow the development of a sensitive assay to measure anti-ICS and anti-BMZ antibodies. Such an assay may have clinical applications and may provide an important tool for studying the mechanisms of autoantibody production in pemphigus and pemphigoid.