Intracellular immunoglobulin A (icIgA) in protective immunity and vaccines

Virus neutralization at respiratory mucosal surfaces is important in the prevention of infection. Mucosal immunity is mediated mainly by extracellular secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and its role has been well studied. However, the protective role of intracellular specific IgA (icIgA) is less well defined. Initially, in vitro studies using epithelial cell lines with surface expressed polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) in transwell culture chambers have shown that icIgA can neutralize influenza, parainfluenza, HIV, rotavirus and measles viruses. This effect appears to involve an interaction between polymeric immunoglobulin A (pIgA) and viral particles within an intracellular compartment, since IgA is transported across the polarized cell. Co-localization of specific icIgA with influenza virus in patients' (virus culture positive) respiratory epithelial cells using well-characterized antisera was initially reported in 2018. This review provides a summary of in vitro studies with icIgA on colocalization and neutralization of the above five viruses. Two other highly significant respiratory infectious agents with severe global impacts viz. SARS-2 virus (CoViD pandemic) and the intracellular bacterium-Mycobacterium tuberculosis-are discussed. Further studies will provide more detailed understanding of the mechanisms and kinetics of icIgA neutralization in relation to viral entry and early replication steps with a specific focus on mucosal infections. This will inform the design of more effective vaccines against infectious agents transmitted via the mucosal route.