Immunogenicity of Enamel Protein

Abstract

Antisera to enamel proteins have been used primarily as a probe for biochemical and developmental studies of enamel proteins and tooth formation. More recently, the inherent immunogenicity of enamel protein has become a subject for investigation. Papers are reviewed which show that soluble enamel proteins are immunogenic across species barriers, and that solid-phase enamel proteins are immunogenic within a species. New data are presented which demonstrate that enamel proteins are autoantigenic both in vivo and in vitro. Future areas of research are suggested.