[Basic investigation of saliva and serum SIgA]

The local immune mechanisms of which the IgA system is central are characterized by activity that is independent of the immune response of the body as a whole. Among these mechanisms, SIgA (secretory IgA) plays an important role. In measuring saliva/serum SIgA, the author used an EIA SIgA column set for saliva and for serum. Investigation of saliva SIgA concerned the correlation with saliva flow speed while investigation of serum SIgA concerned patients with oral dysfunctions and those inoculated with the HB preventive vaccine. A slightly negative correlation was observed between the saliva flow speed and the saliva SIgA value. Regarding serum SIgA, effect from the liver function was considered to be a factor among patients with oral dysfunctions. The antibody positive subjects among those inoculated with the HB vaccine are considered to reflect the response level of the antibody factor as well as individual differences in sensitivity and immune response. Among antibody negative subjects, however, there was a general tendency toward high values.