Abstract
Intestinal immunoglobulins and antibodies in the local immune response to E. coli O somatic antigens have been studied in young fistulated pigs. Antibody levels in intestinal secretion were raised for approximately 2–3 weeks following a single local antigenic challenge with a heat-killed aqueous suspension of E. coli. A second challenge provoked a similar response suggesting a lack of immunological memory.
Antibody activity in the secretions was predominantly associated with IgA and immunofluorescent studies of biopsy specimens from young fistulated animals indicated that intestinal synthesis and secretion of IgA had commenced by the 10th day of life. Studies of piglets reared with the sow indicated that oral immunization with E. coli antigen after 10 days of age stimulated intestinal antibody secretion before weaning at 3 weeks.
The response of gnotobiotic pigs to oral immunization and infection was evaluated by immunofluorescent histology of the intestinal mucosa. Repeated oral administration of heat-killed E. coli O8 resulted in an immunocyte response in the lamina propria numerically comparable with that produced by infection with the live organism. The early response was dominated by cells of the IgM class whereas after 3 weeks IgA cells predominated. In the germ-free animal very few immunoglobulin-containing cells were detected.
In vitro studies of antibacterial activity indicated that the most probable mechanism of immunological control in the alimentary tract is bacteriostasis.
Full text
PDF












Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Adinolfi M., Glynn A. A., Lindsay M., Milne C. M. Serological properties of gamma-A antibodies to Escherichia coli present in human colostrum. Immunology. 1966 Jun;10(6):517–526. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Allen W. D., Porter P. The relative distribution of IgM and IgA cells in intestinal mucosa and lymphoid tissues of the young unweaned pig and their significance in ontogenesis of secretory immunity. Immunology. 1973 Mar;24(3):493–501. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bazin H., Levi G., Doria G. Predominant contribution of IgA antibody-forming cells to an immune response detected in extraintestinal lymphoid tissues of germ-free mice exposed to antigen by the oral route. J Immunol. 1970 Oct;105(4):1049–1051. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cohen I. R., Norins L. C. Antibiodies of the IgG, IgM, and IgA classes in newborn and adult sera reactive with gram-negative bacteria. J Clin Invest. 1968 May;47(5):1053–1062. doi: 10.1172/JCI105795. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Coombs R. R., Jonas W. E., Lachmann P. J., Feinstein A. Detection of IgA antibodies by the red cell linked antigen-antiglobulin reaction: antibodies in the sera of infants to milk proteins. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol. 1965;27(6):321–337. doi: 10.1159/000229616. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Crabbé P. A., Nash D. R., Bazin H., Eyssen D. V., Heremans J. F. Antibodies of the IgA type in intestinal plasma cells of germfree mice after oral or parenteral immunization with ferritin. J Exp Med. 1969 Oct 1;130(4):723–744. doi: 10.1084/jem.130.4.723. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- FRETER R., GANGAROSA E. J. ORAL IMMUNIZATION AND PRODUCTION OF COPROANTIBODY IN HUMAN VOLUNTEERS. J Immunol. 1963 Dec;91:724–729. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Girard J. P., de Kalbermatten A. Antibody activity in human duodenal fluid. Eur J Clin Invest. 1970 Nov;1(3):188–195. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2362.1970.tb00616.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hill I. R., Porter P. Studies of bactericidal activity to Escherichia coli of porcine serum and colostral immunoglobulins and the role of lysozyme with secretory IgA. Immunology. 1974 Jun;26(6):1239–1250. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Keller R., Dwyer J. E., Oh W., D'Amodio M. Intestinal IgA neutralizing antibodies in newborn infants following poliovirus immunization. Pediatrics. 1969 Mar;43(3):330–338. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kenworthy R. Effect of Escherichia coli on germ-free and gnotobiotic pigs. I. Light and electron microscopy of the small intestine. J Comp Pathol. 1970 Jan;80(1):53–63. doi: 10.1016/0021-9975(70)90031-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kohler E. M., Bohl E. H. Studies of Escherichia coli in gnotobiotic pigs 3. Evaluation of orally administered specific antisera. Can J Comp Med Vet Sci. 1966 Aug;30(8):233–237. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kriebel G. W., Jr, Kraft S. C., Rothberg R. M. Locally produced antibody in human gastrointestinal secretions. J Immunol. 1969 Dec;103(6):1268–1275. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lawton A. R., 3rd, Asofsky R., Hylton M. B., Cooper M. D. Suppression of immunoglobulin class synthesis in mice. I. Effects of treatment with antibody to -chain. J Exp Med. 1972 Feb 1;135(2):277–297. doi: 10.1084/jem.135.2.277. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lefèvre H., Uecker W., Blümel P., Raettig H. Untersuchungen zur oralen Immunisierung. Die sekundäre Immunreaktion nach primärer oraler und nachfolgender oraler bzw. parenteraler Applikation von bovinem Serumalbumin (BSA) beim Kaninchen. Zentralbl Bakteriol Orig. 1970 May;213(4):548–566. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mancini G., Carbonara A. O., Heremans J. F. Immunochemical quantitation of antigens by single radial immunodiffusion. Immunochemistry. 1965 Sep;2(3):235–254. doi: 10.1016/0019-2791(65)90004-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- McClelland D. B., Samson R. R., Parkin D. M., Shearman D. J. Bacterial agglutination studies with secretory IgA prepared from human gastrointestinal secretions and colostrum. Gut. 1972 Jun;13(6):450–458. doi: 10.1136/gut.13.6.450. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Miniats O. P., Mitchell L., Barnum D. A. Response of gnotobiotic pigs to Escherichia coli. Can J Comp Med. 1970 Jul;34(3):269–276. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ogra P. L., Karzon D. T. Distribution of poliovirus antibody in serum, nasopharynx and alimentary tract following segmental immunization of lower alimentary tract with poliovaccine. J Immunol. 1969 Jun;102(6):1423–1430. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Osserman E. F., Lawlor D. P. Serum and urinary lysozyme (muramidase) in monocytic and monomyelocytic leukemia. J Exp Med. 1966 Nov 1;124(5):921–952. doi: 10.1084/jem.124.5.921. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Porter P., Kenworthy R., Holme D. W., Horsfield S. Escherichia coli antigens as dietary additives for oral immunisation of pigs: trials with pig creep feeds. Vet Rec. 1973 Jun 16;92(24):630–636. doi: 10.1136/vr.92.24.630. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Porter P., Noakes D. E., Allen W. D. Secretory IgA and antibodies to Escherichia coli in porcine colostrum and milk and their significance in the alimentary tract of the young pig. Immunology. 1970 Feb;18(2):245–257. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Porter P. Transfer of immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM to lacteal secretions in the parturient sow and their absorption by the neonatal piglet. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1969 Jul 1;181(2):381–392. doi: 10.1016/0005-2795(69)90271-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- SABIN A. B., MICHAELS R. H., ZIRING P., KRUGMAN S., WARREN J. Effect of oral poliovirus vaccine in newborn children. II. Intestinal resistance and antibody response at 6 months in children fed type I vaccine at birth. Pediatrics. 1963 Apr;31:641–650. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sebus J., Fernandes J., van der Bult J. A. A new twin hole capsule for peroral intestinal biopsy in children. Digestion. 1968;1(4):193–199. doi: 10.1159/000196853. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wernet P., Breu H., Knop J., Rowley D. Antibacterial action of specific IgA and transport of IgM, IgA, and IgG from serum into the small intestine. J Infect Dis. 1971 Aug;124(2):223–226. doi: 10.1093/infdis/124.2.223. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wilson M. R., Svendsen J. Immunity to Escherichia coli in pigs. The role of milk in protective immunity to e. coli enteritis. Can J Comp Med. 1971 Jul;35(3):239–243. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]