Abstract
In this study, the pathologic alteration of the mucosal surface of the rat small intestine was examined with respect to transport of intraluminal antigen in vivo. As a model for inflammation, rats were injected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis; crypt hyperplasia and villous atrophy were noted in gut segments involved by infection. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) administered by gavage to such animals resulted in a marked increase in immunoreactive BSA (as measured by the Farr technique) in serum compared to controls over 6 hours. Following healing of the intestinal lesion, rats were subjected to mild systemic anaphylaxis by intravenous administration of worm antigen. This treatment led to changes in vascular permeability as measured by the accumulation of 125I-rat serum albumin in the intestinal wall and secretions. Induction of mild systemic anaphylaxis in rats previously fed with BSA, resulted in marked enhancement of BSA uptake suggesting that changes in intestinal permeability occurred. These studies demonstrate that pathologic alterations (inflammation and anaphylaxis) in the rat intestine results in measurable increases in the uptake of antigen and antigen fragments. Enhanced uptake of such antigens may be harmful because of their intrinsic properties (toxins), because of their potential for forming immune complexes or because of their potential for inducing a systemic immune response.
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Walker, W., Bloch, D. 478 INTESTINAL UPTAKE OF ANTIGEN: EVIDENCE FOR ENHANCEMENT WITH INFLAMMATION AND GUT ANAPHYLAXIS. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 443 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00483
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00483