Skip to main content
PMC home page
Gut logoLink to Gut
. 1973 Oct;14(10):778–783. doi: 10.1136/gut.14.10.778

Mucosal secretory IgA and secretory piece in adult coeliac disease

R J Shiner, Janet Ballard
PMCID: PMC1412792  PMID: 4586081

Abstract

Immunofluorescence studies with specific antisera to secretory IgA (11S IgA) and secretory piece were carried out on the jejunal mucosa of nine patients with adult coeliac disease (treated and untreated). The results were compared with those obtained in four normal patients and in four patients with local and systemic IgA (7S) deficiency. 11S IgA and secretory piece were localized to the upper third of the epithelial cells of both surface and glandular epithelium in all groups of patients. However, in the untreated coeliac patients fluorescence was also demonstrated in the basement membrane and connective tissue of the mucosa (returning to normal on treatment).

On the basis of our findings, a revised pathway for the normal production of 11S IgA is proposed as well as an additional pathway involving a `backflow' of 11S IgA into the lamina propria in pathological states such as coeliac disease. This backflow is reversed by an adequate gluten-free diet. It is suggested that 7S IgA and 11S IgA may be involved in immune reactions in the mucosa with antigens such as gluten.

Full text

PDF
778

Images in this article

780Fig 1
on p.780
781Fig 2
on p.781
781Fig 3
on p.781

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BALAZS V., SZOLLOSY Studies on the virus neutralizing capacity of anacid gastric juices. Experientia. 1962 Nov 15;18:515–516. doi: 10.1007/BF02151605. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Brandtzaeg P. Human secretory immunoglobulins. V. Occurrence of secretory piece in human serum. J Immunol. 1971 Feb;106(2):318–323. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Brown W. R., Butterfield D., Savage D., Tada T. Clinical, microbiological, and immunological studies in patients with immunoglobulin deficiencies and gastrointestinal disorders. Gut. 1972 Jun;13(6):441–449. doi: 10.1136/gut.13.6.441. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Brown W. R., Newcomb R. W., Ishizaka K. Proteolytic degradation of exocrine and serum immunoglobulins. J Clin Invest. 1970 Jul;49(7):1374–1380. doi: 10.1172/JCI106354. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Cederblad G., Johansson B. G., Rymo L. Reduction and proteolytic degradation of immunoglobulin A from human colostrum. Acta Chem Scand. 1966;20(9):2349–2357. doi: 10.3891/acta.chem.scand.20-2349. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Davis S. D., Bierman C. W., Pierson W. E., Maas C. W., Iannetta A. Clinical nonspecificity of milk coproantibodies in diarrheal stools. N Engl J Med. 1970 Mar 12;282(11):612–613. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197003122821109. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Douglas A. P., Crabbé P. A., Hobbs J. R. Immunochemical studies on the serum, intestinal secretions and intestinal mucosa in patients with adult celiac disease and other forms of the celiac syndrome. Gastroenterology. 1970 Sep;59(3):414–425. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Ferguson A., Carswell F. Precipitins to dietary proteins in serum and upper intestinal secretions of coeliac children. Br Med J. 1972 Jan 8;1(5792):75–77. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5792.75. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Girard J. P., de Kalbermatten A. Les immunoglobulines dans les sécretions duodéno-pancréatiques et la bile. Schweiz Med Wochenschr. 1970 Feb 14;100(7):336–338. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Loeb P. M., Strober W., Falchuk Z. M., Laster L. Incorporation of L-leucine-14C into immunoglobulins by jejunal biopsies of patients with celiac sprue and other gastrointestinal diseases. J Clin Invest. 1971 Mar;50(3):559–569. doi: 10.1172/JCI106525. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Parkin D. M., McClelland D. B., O'Moore R. R., Percy-Robb I. W., Grant I. W., Shearman D. J. Intestinal bacterial flora and bile salt studies in hypogammaglobulinaemia. Gut. 1972 Mar;13(3):182–188. doi: 10.1136/gut.13.3.182. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Shiner M., Ballard J. Antigen-antibody reactions in jejunal mucosa in childhood coeliac disease after gluten challenge. Lancet. 1972 Jun 3;1(7762):1202–1205. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(72)90924-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Shiner M., Ballard J. Dermatitis herpetiformis--a disorder of immunity? Lancet. 1972 Apr 8;1(7754):796–796. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(72)90550-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Shiner M. Ultrastructural changes suggestive of immune reactions in the jejunal mucosa of coeliac children following gluten challenge. Gut. 1973 Jan;14(1):1–12. doi: 10.1136/gut.14.1.1. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Soltoft J. Immunoglobulin-containing cells in non-tropical sprue. Clin Exp Immunol. 1970 Mar;6(3):413–420. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. South M. A., Cooper M. D., Wollheim F. A., Hong R., Good R. A. The IgA system. I. Studies of the transport and immunochemistry of IgA in the saliva. J Exp Med. 1966 Apr 1;123(4):615–627. doi: 10.1084/jem.123.4.615. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Steward M. W. Resistance of rabbit secretory IgA to proteolysis. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1971 May 25;236(2):440–449. doi: 10.1016/0005-2795(71)90224-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. TOMASI T. B., Jr, TAN E. M., SOLOMON A., PRENDERGAST R. A. CHARACTERISTICS OF AN IMMUNE SYSTEM COMMON TO CERTAIN EXTERNAL SECRETIONS. J Exp Med. 1965 Jan 1;121:101–124. doi: 10.1084/jem.121.1.101. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Thompson R. A., Asquith P., Cooke W. T. Secretory IgA in the serum. Lancet. 1969 Sep 6;2(7619):517–519. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(69)90217-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Thompson R. A., Asquith P. Quantitation of exocrine IgA in human serum in health and disease. Clin Exp Immunol. 1970 Oct;7(4):491–500. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Tomasi T. B., Jr, Bienenstock J. Secretory immunoglobulins. Adv Immunol. 1968;9:1–96. doi: 10.1016/s0065-2776(08)60441-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Tourville D. R., Adler R. H., Bienenstock J., Tomasi T. B., Jr The human secretory immunoglobulin system: immunohistoligical localization of gamma A, secretory "piece," and lactoferrin in normal human tissues. J Exp Med. 1969 Feb 1;129(2):411–429. doi: 10.1084/jem.129.2.411. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Tourville D., Bienenstock J., Tomasi T. B., Jr Natural antibodies of human serum, saliva, and urine reactive with Escherichia coli. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1968 Jul;128(3):722–727. doi: 10.3181/00379727-128-33109. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Waldman R. H., Mach J. P., Stella M. M., Rowe D. S. Secretory IgA in human serum. J Immunol. 1970 Jul;105(1):43–47. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Gut are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES