A protein of squamous keratinising epithelium from odontogenic keratocyst fluid.

Fluid from odontogenic keratocysts was analysed. The major protein fraction with a mobility anodal to albumin on electrophoresis was shown not to be albumin or pre-albumin but a non-serum protein. Using an antiserum to keratocyst fluid absorbed with human serum, non-serum components of the odontogenic keratocyst fluid were localised in squamous keratinising epithelia, principally in the upper layers. The same antiserum showed immuno-localisation in squamous cell carcinoma of skin and cervix. No localisation was seen in normal non-squamous epithelia, in liver, stomach and colon or in non-keratinising squamous epithelial cysts of the jaw.