CHARACTERISTICS OF AN IMMUNE SYSTEM COMMON TO CERTAIN EXTERNAL SECRETIONS

Immunoglobulin A: localization in rectal mucosal epithelial cells

Immunofluorescence studies with monospecific antiserums to human serum immunoglobulins consistently revealed immunoglobulin A within the apical portion of the cytoplasm of rectal mucosal epithelial cells in normal subjects, as well as in patients with various bowel diseases. Immunoglobulins M, G, and D were not demonstrated within mucosal epithelial cells. The predominance of lymphoid cells containing immunoglobulin A in the lamina propria of intestinal tissues was confirmed.

A model for colostral IgA

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Lactoperoxidase: identification and isolation from Harderian and lacrimal glands

Investigation of bovine lacrimal and harderian glands revealed the presence of the enzyme lactoperoxidase, which was isolated and purified. A nonheme, iron-containing protein was identified at the same time. Both proteins are present in milk, mammary glands, and salivary glands. Their roles are discussed: The lactoperoxidase may be important in controlling bacterial flora.

Properties of a salivary bacteriolysin and comparison with serum beta lysin

SYNOPSIS IN INTERLINGUA

PROPRIETATES DE UN BACTERIOLYSINA SALIVARI E COMPARATION DE ILLO CON LYSINA BETA IN LE SERO.-Un bacteriolysina presente in le saliva de humanos con immunitate contra carie esseva studiate relative al factores capace a modificar le responsa de cellulas bacterial e le efficacia del action lytic. Le etate in culturation e le methodos usate in le manipulation afficeva le responsa del cellulas bacterial. Le lysina remaneva efficace con varie valores de pH, in varie dilutiones del saliva, e in le presentia de varie medios, sed illo esseva afficite per le temperatura de preservation. Le comparation con lysina beta ab sero revelava differentias in le requirimentos de cofactor e in le modos e amplitudes del activitate.

Gamma-A-blood group antibodies

The serological characteristics of gammaA-anti-A and anti-B were studied using, as a source, either colostrum, or fractions relatively rich in gammaA obtained from selected potent antisera. gammaA-anti-A and anti-B were never hemolytic nor did they sensitize red cells to agglutination by anticomplement globulin sera. gammaA-anti-A, like gammaG-anti-A and unlike gammaM-anti-A was unaffected by heating at 56 degrees C for 3 hr. On the other hand in the following three characteristics the behavior of gammaA fell between that of gammaG- or gammaM-anti-A: sensitivity to inactivation by 2-mercaptoethanol, ease of neutralization by A substance and degree of enhancement of agglutination in a medium of serum rather than saline. The agglutination produced by gammaA-anti-A was regularly enhanced by addition of anti-gammaA-globulin serum. In searching for gammaA-blood group antibodies of other specificities the following sera were tested: anti-D (32 examples); anti-c (2 examples); anti-Le(a) or -Le(b) (3 examples); anti-K (3 examples); anti-Fy(a) (3 examples), and anti-Jk(a) (3 examples). Only 3 sera, all containing anti-D, sensitized red cells to agglutination by anti-gammaA. There were no discrepancies between results obtained with four different anti-gammaA-globulin sera. Approximately half the sera were fractionated on DEAE-cellulose, and the fractions rich in gammaA tested for their ability to sensitize red cells to agglutination by anti-gammaA; no additional examples of gammaA-antibodies were detected. One of the three examples of gammaA-anti-D appeared in the serum of a woman during the course of deliberate reimmunization. gammaA-anti-D appeared only after three intravenous injections of red cells although the gammaG-anti-D titer rose considerably after a single injection. 3 yr after a fourth injection of Rh-positive cells gammaA-anti-D, as well as gammaG-anti-D, was still present in the serum.

Immunoglobulin A production in ataxia telangiectasia

Serum from five patients with ataxia telangiectasia contained no detectable immunoglobulin A (IgA). However, there was evidence (by immunofluorescence) of IgA in the bone marrow of the three patients so examined, suggesting that the defect in IgA production was not complete. IgA was in the saliva of all five patients and in the parotid gland of the one patient studied. This is further evidence of IgAsynthesis by the salivary glands.