TUMOR IMPRINTS AS A SOURCE OF NUCLEAR SUBSTRATE FOR THE DETECTION OF ANTINUCLEAR FACTORS

[摘要] Sera of patients with positive lupus erythematosus cell tests, scleroderma and various dermatoses were investigated for antibodies to skin components and antinuclear factors by the indirect fluorescent antibody technic. Speckled nuclear fluorescence in the epidermis was seen with several of the scleroderma sera. Epidermal nucleolar fluorescence occurred with one scleroderma serum, while homogeneous epidermal nuclear fluorescence was seen with several of the lupus erythematosus cell positive sera. Tumor imprints were far superior for the detection of antinuclear factors to the conventional blood smears and tissue sections. Nuclear fluorescence was much more conspicuous due to the greater number, size and delineation of nuclei and to the greater quantity of some of the nuclear antigens. We therefore suggest the routine use of tumor imprints as a rapid and practical screening test for antinuclear factors.