Serologically demonstrable alloantigens of mouse epidermal cells

Single cells were prepared from mouse tail epidermis by a method which gives high viability counts and so permits their use in cytotoxicity tests. According to tests with standard alloantisera, the antigen phenotype of mouse epidermal cells is H-2(+)theta(+)Sk(+)H-Y(+)TL(-)Ly-A(-)Ly-B,C(-)PC(-). The skin differentiation alloantigen Sk, which is responsible for homograft reactions directed selectively against skin, is expressed also on brain, but not on other cell types; it is present on the transplanted neuroblastoma C1300. Cytotoxicity tests with epidermal cells of H-2 congenic mouse stocks confirm that the Sk locus is not closely linked to H-2. The lymphoid cell differentiation antigen theta also is present on both epidermal cells and brain. Mice frequently retain theta-incompatible or Sk-incompatible skin grafts although they have formed substantial titers of theta or Sk antibody in response to grafting. Male (H-Y) antigen is demonstrable on epidermal cells by cytotoxicity tests with H-Y antibody, as it is also on one other type of cell, spermatozoa.