[Monoclonal autoantibodies to the epithelial basement membrane cells of human skin and thymus obtained through immunization with Rickettsia prowazekii antigens].

As the result of immunization of BALB/c mice with the commercial preparation of typhus vaccine and R. prowazekii corpuscular antigen, in 29.2% and 40.3% of cases (respectively) the appearance of hybridomas synthesizing monoclonal antibodies (McAb) to different autologous structures (skin and thymic epithelium, cell nuclei, conjunctive tissue structures and vascular endothelium) has been revealed. The McAb under test have proved to be IgM-autoantibodies. McAb M-6, active against the basal membrane of human skin and thymic epithelium, produce quite a definite picture of disturbances in the differentiation of epithelium and can be used for the diagnosis of dyskeratosis.