Open AccessBoth IgA subclasses are reduced in parotid saliva from patients with AIDS
Author(s) -
MÜLLER F.,
FRØLAND S. S.,
HVATUM M.,
RADL J.,
BRANDTZAEG P.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1991.tb05615.x
Subject(s) - asymptomatic , saliva , immunology , medicine , immunopathology , immunoglobulin a , antibody , immunoglobulin g
SUMMARY Secretory IgA (SIgA), the isotypes IgA1 and IgA2, and IgM were measured by ELISA in stimulated parotid saliva from patients with AIDS ( n = 16), subjects with asymptomatic HIV infection ( n = 28), and HIV‐seronegative healthy controls ( n = 19), SIgA was significantly reduced in the AIDS group (10.4 μg / ml) compared with the asymptomatic HIV‐infected subjects (17.1 μg/ml) and the controls (23.0 μg / ml). This decrease comprised both IgA1 and IgA2 to a similar extent on a relative basis. The SIgA decrease in AIDS patients was in striking contrast to their serum IgA level, which was significantly increased (6.9 g/ I ) compared with the asymptomatic HIV‐infected subjects (2.9 g/ I ) as well as the controls (2.8 g/ I ). Low parotid output of SIgA in patients with HIV infection was associated with low numbers of CD4 + lymphocytes in peripheral blood as well as the presence of oral infections. The parotid output of IgM was similar in all groups. A low level of SIgA in the external secretions of patients with AIDS may well contribute to their frequent mucosal infections of opportunistic microorganisms.