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[Local immune reactions in cholecystitis]
Insights
Gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis) involves changes in immunoglobulin production by plasma cells. Destructive cholecystitis shows reduced secretory immunoglobulin A and increased IgM and IgG, impacting gallbladder immunity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
- Pathology
Background:
- The gallbladder wall contains plasma cells that produce immunoglobulins, crucial components of the local immune system.
- Cholecystitis, an inflammation of the gallbladder, may involve altered immunoglobulin synthesis and immune cell activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the quantitative changes in plasma cells synthesizing different immunoglobulin classes within the gallbladder wall in healthy individuals and patients with cholecystitis.
- To elucidate the role of local immune responses in the pathogenesis of various forms of cholecystitis.
Main Methods:
- Histological examination of gallbladder tissue.
- Histochemical staining techniques.
- Immunofluorescence microscopy to detect immunoglobulin production by plasma cells.
Main Results:
- Catarrhal cholecystitis exhibited increased production of all immunoglobulin classes by gallbladder plasma cells.
- Destructive cholecystitis was characterized by a significant decrease in secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgA-producing plasma cells.
- An increase in IgM- and IgG-producing immunocytes was observed in destructive cholecystitis, along with the formation of immune complexes (IgM, IgG) in vascular and perivascular tissues.
Conclusions:
- Local immune reactions, particularly involving immunoglobulin production by plasma cells, are integral to gallbladder mucosal defense.
- Altered immunoglobulin profiles and immune complex deposition are implicated in the pathomorphogenesis of cholecystitis, especially in its destructive forms.
Abstract:
The amount of plasma cells synthesizing different class immunoglobulins in the gallbladder wall in 9 practically healthy people and in 19 patients with different forms of cholecystitis was studied by a complex of histological, histochemical and immunofluorescent methods. It was established that catarrhal cholecystitis was accompanied by activated production of immunoglobulins of all classes by plasmocytes of the gallbladder wall. In patients with destructive forms of cholecystitis the level of secretory immunoglobulin A was substantially decreased as well as the amount of plasmocytes synthesizing IgA. The amount of immunocytes producing IgM and IgG became disproportionally greater, there appeared immune IgM complexes and IgG and IgG in the wall of blood vessels and perivascular stroma. The author considers that local immune reactions play an important role in protection of the gallbladder mucosa and pathomorphogenesis of cholecystitis.