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Antibody Activity in Human Duodenal Fluid *
Author(s) -
Girard J. P.,
Kalbermatten A.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2362.1970.tb00616.x
Subject(s) - antibody , radial immunodiffusion , microbiology and biotechnology , opsonin , hemagglutination , immunoglobulin a , immunology , phagocytosis , immunoglobulin m , immunodiffusion , gamma globulin , biology , serotype , antibody opsonization , globulin , immunoglobulin g
In duodenal secretions from healthy adults and infants (aged 4–14 weeks) the level of immunoglobulins was measured by radial immunodiffusion. In the material from adult individuals, the antibody activity against common pathogenic bacterial strains was measured by means of the opsonin test. The antibody activity of duodenal secretions from infants vaccinated orally with an extract of 9 pathogenic E. coli serotypes was studied by the haemagglutination technique.—IgA is the predominant globulin of adult duodenal secretions, closely followed by IgM. In this material a clear‐cut opsonizing activity was shown to be present with several pathogenic strains of bacteria. The definite role of antibodies was demonstrated by absorption experiments with anti‐human globulin serum.—Purified secretory IgA and IgM were used as opsonizing agents. It was shown that complement enhances the phagocytic activity of IgM only, whereas lysozyme stimulates phagocytosis with both IgA and IgM.—Infants vaccinated with an extract of pathgogenic E. coli showed no evidence of antibody activity in their serum whereas a strong antibody activity was found in the duodenal secretions. Following immunisation the immunoglobulin content of secretions increased significantly. In early collected specimens, the antibody response was made mainly of IgM whereas in late specimens almost all the antibody activity was made of IgA, suggesting a typical primary response.