Chapter category: Immunology

IgA and Mucosal Homeostasis

This chapter appears in the following book:

Oral Tolerance: The Response of the Intestinal Mucosa to Dietary Antigens

Edited by: Olivier Morteau
ISBN: 0-306-47989-3
» Get more information about this book at landesbioscience.com «

Chapter authors:
Jesper Reinholdt and Steffen Husby

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Mucosal surfaces represent the major interface between host and environment. They constitute the point of entry of most infectious pathogens, and are in contact with potentially injurious antigens present in the normal mucosal microflora and in ingested or inhaled substances. To deal appropriately with this challenge, the host immune system rely on both cell-mediated and humoral responses. Whereas cell-mediated responses involve a range of different effector cells,1,2 the humoral immune defense at mucosal level is mediated predominantly by antibodies of the immunoglobulin (Ig) A isotype. The mucosal immune system contains more than 80% of all Ig-producing cells in the body, and the major product of these cells in normal individuals is IgA.3 In the circulation, IgA is the second most abundant Ig class, its concentration (~2 mg/ml) being surpassed only by that of IgG (~12 mg/ ml). Considering the distribution in various body fluids of the major Ig isotypes and their catabolic rates, IgA is clearly synthesized in quantities (~66 mg/kg body weight/day) that exceed by far the combined daily synthesis of all other isotypes.

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Chapter category: Immunology

IgA and Mucosal Homeostasis

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