Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Direct evidence for an integrated function of J chain and secretory component in epithelial transport of immunoglobulins

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

J chain is a polypeptide of molecular weight (Mr) ∼ 15,000 common to human dimeric IgA and pentameric IgM1,2. These immunoglobulin polymers show a high affinity for secretory component (SC) in vitro3,4, a feature that, in some studies, has been claimed to be a function of the J chain5,6. SC is a glycoprotein of Mr ∼80,000 which is expressed on the basolateral surfaces of secretory epithelial cells7,8 where, according to a current hypothesis, it may act as a receptor for dimeric IgA and pentameric IgM9 which are selectively transported through secretory epithelial cells into exocrine fluids10,11. Previous studies, however, have not excluded the possibility that secretory cells express isotype-specific Fc receptors for IgA and IgM which may be involved in epithelial transport. We now report that the adsorption of immunoglobulin polymers to SC-expressing epithelial cells depends solely on a J chain-determined binding site. This finding lends biological significance to the striking J-chain expression shown by immunoglobulin-producing immunocytes in secretory tissues12–14.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Halpern, M. S. & Koshland, M. E. Nature 228, 1276–1278 (1970).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Mestecky, J., Zikan, J. & Butler, W. T. Science 171, 1163–1165 (1971).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Brandtzaeg, P. Immunochemistry 14, 179–188 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Socken, D. J. & Underdown, B. J. Immunochemistry 15, 499–506 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Eskeland, T. & Brandtzaeg, P. Immunochemistry 11, 161–163 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Brandtzaeg, P. Scand. J. Immun. 5, 411–419 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Brandtzaeg, P. J. Immun. 122, 1553–1559 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Brandtzaeg, P. Scand. J. Immun. 8, 39–52 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Brandtzaeg, P. in Recent Advances in Mucosal Immunity (eds Strober, W., Hanson, L. A. & Sell, K. W.) 267–285 (Raven, New York, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Brandtzaeg, P., Fjellanger, I. & Gjeruldsen, S. T. Scand. J. Haemat. Suppl. 12, 1–83 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Brandtzaeg, P. Immunology 29, 559–570 (1975).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Brandtzaeg, P. Nature 252, 418–420 (1974).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Brandtzaeg, P. et al. J. Immun. 122, 503–510 (1979).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Brandtzaeg, P. Molec. Immun. 20, 941–966 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Tomasi, T. B., Tan, E. M., Solomon, A. & Prendergast, R. A. J. exp. Med. 121, 101–124 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Brandtzaeg, P. Nature new Biol. 243, 142–143 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Brandtzaeg, P. Immunology 26, 1101–1114 (1974).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Crago, S. S., Kulhavy, R., Prince, S. J. & Mestecky, J. J. exp. Med. 147, 1832–1837 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Nagura, H., Nakane, P. K. & Brown, W. R. J. Immun. 123, 2359–2368 (1979).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Mostov, K. E. & Blobel, G. J. biol. Chem. 257, 11816–11821 (1982).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Lum, L. G. et al. J. Immun. 123, 714–719 (1979).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Hoover, R. G., Dieckgraefe, B. K. & Lynch, R. G. J. Immun. 127, 1560–1563 (1981).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Fanger, M. W., Shen, L., Pugh, J. & Bermier, G. M. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77, 3640–3644 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Gauldie, J., Richards, C. & Lamontagne, L. Molec. Immun. 20, 1029–1037 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Huang, S. W., Fogh, J. & Hong, R. Scand. J. Immun. 2, 263–268 (1976).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Tønder, O., Matre, R. & Wesenberg, F. Contemp. Topics Immunobiol. 10, 167–176 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Rognum, T. O. et al. J. clin. Path. 35, 922–933 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Koshland, M. E. J. Immun. 131, I–IX (1983).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Hajdu, I., Moldoveanu, Z., Cooper, M. & Mestecky, J. J. exp. Med. 158, 1993–2006 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Korsrud, F. R. & Brandtzaeg, P. Scand. J. Immun. 13, 281–287 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Cebra, J. J., Fuhrman, J. A., Horsfall, D. J. & Shahin, R. D. Semin. infect. Dis. 4, 6–12 (1982).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Kownatzki, E. Immun. Commun. 2, 105–113 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Eskeland, T. Scand. J. Immun. 3, 757–763 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Stott, D. I. Immunochemistry 13, 157–163 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Brandtzaeg, P. Scand. J. Immun. 4, 837–842 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Koshland, M. E., Chapuis, R. M., Recht, B. & Brown, J. C. J. Immun. 118, 775–781 (1977).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Brandtzaeg, P. Scand. J. Immun. 2, 273–290 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Brandtzaeg, P. Scand. J. Immun. 4, 439–450 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Brandtzaeg, P. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 29, 1302–1315 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Immunohistochemistry and Immunopathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Oslo, The National Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, 1, Norway

    P. Brandtzaeg

  2. Research Institute for Internal Medicine, University of Oslo, The National Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, 1, Norway

    H. Prydz

Authors
  1. P. Brandtzaeg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. Prydz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brandtzaeg, P., Prydz, H. Direct evidence for an integrated function of J chain and secretory component in epithelial transport of immunoglobulins. Nature 311, 71–73 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/311071a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/311071a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation