[Molecular heterogeneity of the bullous pemphigoid antigen as detected by immunoblotting].

Sera from 18 patients with bullous pemphigoid (BP) and 20 controls (normal volunteers and patients with pemphigus) were tested against extracts of human epidermis by immunoblotting techniques. BP sera from individual patients showed different patterns of reactivity with the same epidermal extract, and each pattern consisted of one or more bands. A total f three bands of 240, 200, and 180 KD reacted with BP sera, and none of three bands was detected in the control sera. The 240 KD and 180 KD bands reacted strongly with some sera and were most frequently observed (44% and 50%, respectively). The 200 KD band was less frequently observed (22%). Eleven percent of the BP sera did not react to any bands. These results indicate the presence of several antigens reactive with autoantibodies in the sera of BP patients, rather than a single molecule.