Skip to main content
PMC home page
Clinical and Experimental Immunology logoLink to Clinical and Experimental Immunology
. 1973 Jul;14(3):377–395.

In vitro synthesis of immunoglobulins, secretory component and complement in normal and pathological skin and the adjacent mucous membranes

R F M Lai A Fat, D Suurmond, R Van Furth
PMCID: PMC1553825  PMID: 4199092

Abstract

A study on the synthesis of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, and IgE), secretory component and complement in normal and pathological skin and in the adjacent mucous membranes (i.e. conjunctiva, nasal, oral and vaginal mucosa) is reported. The results are based on the culture of tissue samples in a medium with two radioactive amino acids and the detection of synthesized proteins by autoradiography of the immunoelectrophoretic pattern of the culture fluid, except in the case of IgE for which the Ouchterlony technique was used.

The results indicate that the normal skin does not synthesize immunoglobulins, whereas normal mucous membranes produce IgG and IgA. In the lesions of various skin diseases immunoglobulins are synthesized, mainly IgG but sometimes also IgA and IgE. The cells responsible for the production of immunoglobulins are plasma cells and lymphoid cells present in the skin lesions and mucous membranes.

Synthesis of the free secretory component could be demonstrated only in certain mucous membranes (i.e. conjunctiva, nasal mucosa, and oral mucosa).

Complement (C3) synthesis was found in normal skin, mucous membranes (i.e. conjunctiva, nasal and oral mucosa), and in the lesions of such skin diseases as discoid lupus erythematosus, (bullous) pemphigoid, dermatitis herpetiformis, malignant reticulosis, eczema and lichen planus. Complement production was also demonstrated in allergic skin reactions (i.e. tissue from allergic-positive patch tests, positive Mantoux tests and drug eruptions), but no immunoglobulin synthesis was detected in these lesions.

Full text

PDF
377

Images in this article

382Fig. 1
on p.382
383Fig. 2
on p.383
387Fig. 3
on p.387
388Fig. 4
on p.388
390Fig. 5
on p.390

Selected References

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

  1. Aiuti F., Van Furth R., Turbessi G., Ricci G. Presenza e sintesi delle immunoglobuline nei tessuti degli apparati gastro-enterico e respiratorio, nella mucosa congiuntivale, vaginale e nella cute. Prog Immunobiol Stand. 1970;4:297–307. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BRANDTZAEG P., KRAUS F. W. AUTOIMMUNITY AND PERIODONTAL DISEASE. Odontol Tidskr. 1965 Jun 30;73:281–393. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. BURNHAM T. K., NEBLETT T. R., FINE G. THE APPLICATION OF THE FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIC TO THE INVESTIGATION OF LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS AND VARIOUS DERMATOSES. J Invest Dermatol. 1963 Dec;41:451–456. doi: 10.1038/jid.1963.140. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Baart de la Faille-Kuyp, Cormane R. H. The occurrence of certain serum factors in the dermal-epidermal junction and vessel walls of the skin in lupus erythematosus and other (skin) diseases. Acta Derm Venereol. 1968;48(6):578–588. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Beutner E. H., Jordon R. E., Chorzelski T. P. The immunopathology of pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid. J Invest Dermatol. 1968 Aug;51(2):63–80. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Brandtzaeg P., Fjellanger I., Gjeruldsen S. T. Localization of immunoglobulins in human nasal mucosa. Immunochemistry. 1967 Jan;4(1):57–60. doi: 10.1016/0019-2791(67)90197-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. CHODIRKER W. B., TOMASI T. B., Jr GAMMA-GLOBULINS: QUANTITATIVE RELATIONSHIPS IN HUMAN SERUM AND NONVASCULAR FLUIDS. Science. 1963 Nov 22;142(3595):1080–1081. doi: 10.1126/science.142.3595.1080. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. CORMANE R. H. "BOUND" GLOBULIN IN THE SKIN OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC DISCOID LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS AND SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS. Lancet. 1964 Mar 7;1(7332):534–535. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(64)92917-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. CRABBE P. A., CARBONARA A. O., HEREMANS J. F. THE NORMAL HUMAN INTESTINAL MUCOSA AS A MAJOR SOURCE OF PLASMA CELLS CONTAINING GAMMA-A-IMMUNOGLOBULIN. Lab Invest. 1965 Mar;14:235–248. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. 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]
  11. Chorzelski T. P., Cormane R. H. The presence of complement "bound" in vivo in the skin of patients with pemphigoid. Dermatologica. 1968;137(3):134–138. doi: 10.1159/000254042. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Chorzelski T., Jablonska S., Blaszczyk M. Immunopathologic investigations in lupus erythematosus. J Invest Dermatol. 1969 Apr;52(4):333–338. doi: 10.1038/jid.1969.55. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Cormane R. H., Ballieux R. E., Kalsbeek G. L., Hymans W. Classification of immunoglobulins in the dermo-epidermal junction in lupus erythematosus. Clin Exp Immunol. 1966 Apr;1(2):207–212. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Cormane R. H., Giannetti A. IgD in various dermatoses; immunofluorescence studies. Br J Dermatol. 1971 Jun;84(6):523–533. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1971.tb02541.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Crabbé P. A., Heremans J. F. The distribution of immunoglobulin-containing cells along the human gastrointestinal tract. Gastroenterology. 1966 Sep;51(3):305–316. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Gelzayd E. A., Kraft S. C., Fitch F. W. Immunoglobulin A: localization in rectal mucosal epithelial cells. Science. 1967 Aug 25;157(3791):930–931. doi: 10.1126/science.157.3791.930. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Gelzayd E. A., Kraft S. C., Kirsner J. B. Distribution of immunoglobulins in human rectal mucosa. I. Normal control subjects. Gastroenterology. 1968 Mar;54(3):334–340. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Hashimoto K., Thompson D. F. Discoid lupus erythematosus. Electron microscopic studies of paramyxovirus-like structures. Arch Dermatol. 1970 May;101(5):565–567. doi: 10.1001/archderm.101.5.565. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Holubar K., Doralt M., Eggerth G. Immunofluorescence patterns in dermatitis herpetiformis. Investigations on skin and intestinal mucosa. Br J Dermatol. 1971 Dec;85(6):505–510. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1971.tb14074.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Jasin H. E., Ziff M. Immunoglobulin and specific antibody synthesis in a chronic inflammatory focus: antigen-induced synovitis. J Immunol. 1969 Feb;102(2):355–369. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Jerry L. M., Kunkel H. G., Adams L. Stabilization of dissociable IgA2 proteins by secretory component. J Immunol. 1972 Aug;109(2):275–283. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Jordon R. E., Triftshauser C. T., Schroeter A. L. Direct immunofluorescent studies of pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid. Arch Dermatol. 1971 May;103(5):486–491. doi: 10.1001/archderm.103.5.486. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. KALSBEEK G. L., CORMANE R. H. "BOUND" COMPLEMENT IN THE SKIN OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC DISCOID LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS AND SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS. Lancet. 1964 Jul 25;2(7352):178–180. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(64)90234-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Kobayashi K. Studies on human secretory IgA comparative studies of the IgA-bound secretory piece and the free secretory piece protein. Immunochemistry. 1971 Sep;8(9):785–800. doi: 10.1016/0019-2791(71)90446-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Mach J. P. In vitro combination of human and bovine free secretory component with IgA of various species. Nature. 1970 Dec 26;228(5278):1278–1282. doi: 10.1038/2281278a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Martinez-Tello F. J., Braun D. G., Blanc W. A. Immunoglobulin production in bronchial mucosa and bronchial lymph nodes, particularly in cystic fibrosis of the pancreas. J Immunol. 1968 Nov;101(5):989–1003. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Pohle E. L., Tuffanelli D. L. Study of cutaneous lupus erythematosus by immunohistochemical methods. Arch Dermatol. 1968 May;97(5):520–526. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Prunieras M., Grupper C., Durepaire R., Beltzer-Garelly E., Regnier M. Etude ultrastructurale de la peau dans 42 cas de lupus érythémateux. Presse Med. 1970 Dec 26;78(55):2475–2479. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Rossen R. D., Morgan C., Hsu K. C., Butler W. T., Rose H. M. Localization of 11 S external secretory IgA by immunofluorescence in tissues lining the oral and respiratory passages in man. J Immunol. 1968 Apr;100(4):706–717. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Ruddy S., Gigli I., Austen K. F. The complement system of man (second of four parts). N Engl J Med. 1972 Sep 14;287(11):545–549. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197209142871106. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Rádl J., Klein F., van den Berg P., de Bruyn A. M., Hijmans W. Binding of secretory piece to polymeric IgA and IgM paraproteins in vitro. Immunology. 1971 May;20(5):843–852. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. SCHEIDEGGER J. J. Une micro-méthode de l'immuno-electrophorèse. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol. 1955;7(2):103–110. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Sams W. M., Jr, Jordon R. E. Pemphigus antibodies: their role in disease. J Invest Dermatol. 1971 Jun;56(6):474–479. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12261412. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Savilahti E. Immunoglobulin-containing cells in the intestinal mucosa and immunoglobulins in the intestinal juice in children. Clin Exp Immunol. 1972 Jul;11(3):415–425. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Schmitt D., Thivolet J., Perrot H., Tack J. L., Germain D. Aspects ultrastructuraux des inclusions de type viral dans les lésions cutaneés du lupus aigu et du lupus discoïde fix. Arch Dermatol Forsch. 1971;241(4):317–328. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Söltoft J. Immunoglobulin-containing cells in normal jejunal mucosa and in ulcerative colitis and regional enteritis. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1969;4(4):353–360. doi: 10.3109/00365526909180616. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. 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]
  38. 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]
  39. Tourville D. R., Ogra S. S., Lippes J., Tomasi T. B., Jr The human female reproductive tract: immunohistological localization of gamma A, gamma G, gamma M, secretory "piece," and lactoferrin. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1970 Dec 1;108(7):1102–1108. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(70)90460-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Van Munster P. J., Stoelinga G. B., Poels-Zanders S. Isolation of free secretory component (S.C.) from human milk, determination of its molecular weight. Immunochemistry. 1971 Jun;8(6):471–477. doi: 10.1016/0019-2791(71)90398-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. van Furth R., Schuit R. E., Hijmans W. The formation of immunoglobulins by human tissues in vitro. I. The methods and their specificity. Immunology. 1966 Jul;11(1):1–11. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. van Furth R. The formation of immunoglobulins by human tissues in vitro. II. Quantitative studies. Immunology. 1966 Jul;11(1):13–18. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. van Munster P. J., Stoelinga G. B., Clamp J. R., Gerding J. J., Reijnen J. C., Voss M. The molecular weight and the amino acid and carbohydrate compositions of free secretory component (SC). Immunology. 1972 Aug;23(2):249–256. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. van der Meer J. B. Granular deposits of immunoglobulins in the skin of patients with dermatitis herpetiformis. An immunofluorescent study. Br J Dermatol. 1969 Jul;81(7):493–503. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1969.tb16024.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Clinical and Experimental Immunology are provided here courtesy of British Society for Immunology

RESOURCES