HB8: a monoclonal antibody recognizing elastic fibre microfibrils

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Abstract
We report an ultrastructural study of the reactivity of an IgG monoclonal antibody, which reacts with human dermal elastic fibres. On electron microscopy, immunoglobulin labelling demonstrated the reactivity of HB8 with the microfibrillar component of the fibres. In contrast, the electron-dense granular component which contains elastin was unlabelled with HB8. A fine network of microfibrils from the level of the oxytalan fibres to the large elastic fibres of the deep dermis was labelled with gold particles. No reactivity was detected on collagen fibres. These results demonstrate that HB8 reacts with the microfibrillar glycoproteins of the elastic fibres in normal skin. The precise biochemical nature of the antigens identified by HJB8 is still unknown.