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Local immunity: The human mucosa in health and disease

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Book cover Advances in Mucosal Immunology

Abstract

The secretory antibody system depends on local production and selective epithelial transport of polymeric immunoglobulin A (pIgA) and immunoglobulin M (pIgM). To this end there is a fascinating co-operation between the local immune system and the glandular epithelium by their production of two key factors, J chain and secretory component (SC), respectively. Mucosal immune regulation is normally geared for generation of early memory B-cell clones with prominent J-chain expression and preference for IgA production. Moreover, cytokines released from activated T cells and macrophages probably stimulate the secretory epithelium to perform enhanced SC-dependent transport of J chain-containing pIgA and pIgM when their local production is increased. There is also circumstantial evidence to suggest that interactions between the gut epithelium and T cells are involved in mucosal downregulation of systemic types of immunity to non-replicating luminal antigens. IgG (and IgE) responses and delayed-type hypersensitivity may thereby be minimized to avoid undue complement activation, increased mucosal penetrability, inflammation, and tissue damage. It is possible that abrogation of such hyporesponsiveness to usually harmless luminal antigens contributes to the pathogenesis of various mucosal disorders. Enhanced stimulation of local T lymphocytes, increased epithelial expression of HLA class II determinants, and disproportionate local overproduction of IgG, are features that may reflect such a deleterious development leading to disease. Expansion of a particular TCRγ/δ + intraepithelial T-cell subset may also be involved in coeliac disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Immunohistochemistry and Immunopathology (LIIPAT), Institute of Pathology, University of Oslo, The National Hospital, Rikshospitalet, N-0027, Oslo 1, Norway

    P Brandtzaeg, K Bjerke, T S Halstensen, M Hvatum, K Kett, P Krajci, D Kvale, F Müller, D Wilsson, T O Roynum, H Scott, L M Sollid, P Thrane & K Valnes

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  1. P Brandtzaeg
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  2. K Bjerke
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  3. T S Halstensen
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  4. M Hvatum
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  5. K Kett
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  6. P Krajci
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  7. D Kvale
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  11. H Scott
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  12. L M Sollid
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  13. P Thrane
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  14. K Valnes
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, St Bartholomews Hospital, London, UK

    Thomas T MacDonald PhD MRCPath (Wellcome Senior Lecturer) (Wellcome Senior Lecturer)

  2. Department of Oral Medicine and Pathology, Guy’s Hospital, London, UK

    Stephen J Challacombe PhD BDS MRCPath (Professor) (Professor)

  3. Department of Veterinary Medicine, The University, Bristol, UK

    Paul W Bland PhD (Lecturer) & Christopher R Stokes PhD (Senior Research Fellow) (Lecturer) &  (Senior Research Fellow)

  4. Department of Medicine, St James’s University Hospital, London, UK

    Richard V Heatley MD MRCP (Senior Lecturer) (Senior Lecturer)

  5. Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, The University, Glasgow, UK

    Allan Mcl Mowat PhD MB ChB (Lecturer) (Lecturer)

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© 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Brandtzaeg, P. et al. (1990). Local immunity: The human mucosa in health and disease. In: MacDonald, T.T., Challacombe, S.J., Bland, P.W., Stokes, C.R., Heatley, R.V., Mowat, A.M. (eds) Advances in Mucosal Immunology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1848-1_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1848-1_1

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