Abstract
Simultaneous colostrum(C) and plasma samples(P) from 17 women, two to five days postpartum were assayed for IgD, albumin and IgG, the latter two by radial immunodiffusion and IgD by radio-immunoassay. Colostrum samples were assayed for IgD using a serum standard curve and a curve derived by adding known quantities of IgD to an IgD deficient colostrum. The mean colostrum/plasma ratio for IgD[0.055±0.015] exceeded the albumin C/P ratio [0.020±0.002] and the IgG C/P ratio[0.015±0.003]. For 14 of the 17 patients, the individual C/P ratio for IgD exceeded the C/P ratio for albumin and for one subject the IgD C/P ratio was greater than 10 times the albumin ratio. The data for IgG differed in that the total IgG C/P ratio was lower than the albumin C/P ratio for 16 of the 17 subjects studied. For all subjects except an IgD deficient subject, the C/P ratio for IgD exceeded that for IgG. Correlation coefficients were calculated using logarithmically transformed data. For albumin vs. IgG in colostum, r=0.865, p=0.001. This differed from the correlation for albumin vs. IgD, r=0.489, p=0.046 or IgD vs. IgG, r=0.556, p=0.020. These data indicate that IgD is enhanced in colostrum in comparison with IgG and suggest that the mechanism of entry of IgD into milk differs from that of IgG or albumin. The data support our previous finding of enhanced specific IgD antibody in colostrum and suggest a role for IgD in the secretory immune system.
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Keller, M., Heiner, D., Myers, A. et al. IgD - A MUCOSAL IMMUNOGLOBULIN?. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 258 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00992
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00992