THE PSORIASIS-ASSOCIATED ANTIGEN, PSO-P27, PARTICIPATES IN THE FORMATION OF COMPLEMENT ACTIVATING IMMUNE-COMPLEXES IN PSORIATIC SCALE

The psoriasis-associated antigen, pso p27, and antibodies recognizing this antigen were demonstrated in extracts from psoriatic scales. It was demonstrated that the antigen was present in complexes containing IgG as well as complement factor C1q. The complexes were studied with respect to complement-activating potential. This was measured as the ability of the complexes to induce the generation of the complement factor C5a using rabbit serum as the source of complement. The data obtained showed that the pso p27-containing complexes were able to activate the complement system, indicating that the pso p27 antigen may contribute to the inflammatory process in psoriasis.