Secretory immunoglobulin A in oral and respiratory passages in man

Secretory IgA (SIgA) is the predominant immunoglobulin in certain external secretions and may have an important role in immunological mucosal resistance. SIgA differs in chemical and immunological properties from serum IgA. The present study was undertaken to investigate the antigenic relationship between SIgA, free secretory component (FSC) and serum IgA and the localization of SIgA as well as other immunological classes in tissues of oral and respiratory passages by use of immunofluorescence technique. SIgA and FSC were highly purified from human colostrum and rabbit anti-SIgA and anti-SC antisera were prepared. On the basis of antigenic relationships between SIgA, FSC and serum IgA, it was emphasized that individual specific antisera for SC and IgA and/or SIgA should be used in immunochemical or immunohistological investigations for SIgA. The present study failed to detect SC determinants in palatine and lingual tonsils. However, it was evident that cells present in the pharyngeal tonsillar epithelium contain SC determinants. SC molecules may be synthesized in certain secretory cells of mucous membrane and glandular epithelium and the combining of SC with IgA could occur in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells, the intercellular spaces and/or in the lumens of glandular acini and ductules.