Open AccessIsotypic analysis of specific antibody response in serum, saliva, gastric and rectal homogenates of Helicobacter pylori ‐infected patients
Author(s) -
Luzza F.,
Imeneo M.,
Maletta M.,
Monteleone G.,
Doldo P.,
Biancone L.,
Pallone F.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1995.tb00045.x
Subject(s) - saliva , helicobacter pylori , spirillaceae , immune system , antibody , immunology , titer , immunoglobulin a , gastroenterology , immunoglobulin g , gastric mucosa , biology , medicine , stomach , gastritis
The relationship between systemic and local humoral immune response to Helicobacter pylori is poorly understood. To further address this issue we measured, using ELISA, H. pylori ‐specific IgG and IgA antibodies in serum, saliva, gastric and rectal homogenates of H. pylori ‐infected patients. A total of 107 patients who underwent upper GI endoscopy and/or sigmoidoscopy were studied. The isotypic pattern of H. pylori ‐specific antibodies appeared to differ at the serum, salivary, gastric and rectal mucosa level. Serum H. pylori IgG titers were higher than those of the serum‐specific IgA. On the contrary, in saliva samples. H. pylori IgA titers were higher than specific IgG titers. In gastric homogenates, specific IgG and IgA titers were similar. H. pylori ‐specific IgG were detectable in rectal homogenates but no or very low H. pylori ‐specific IgA were found in the same material. Furthermore, no difference was found in H. pylori IgG and IgA in serum, saliva and gastric homogenates between duodenal ulcer and non‐ulcer dyspepsia patients. Data of the present study indicate that, in H. pylori ‐infected patients, the specific immune response is as follows: (1) it involves the secretory immune system; (2) it is paralleled by the specific salivary IgA; (3) it does not differentiate duodenal ulcer from non‐ulcer dyspepsia patients; and (4) it does not take place in the large bowel.