Abstract
The concept of a “common mucosal immune system” explains the presence of specific secretory IgA antibodies at sites distal to the gastrointestinal tract following antigenic stimulation of the human gut. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between human milk and salivary secretory IgA (SIgA) specific to colonisation factor I (CFA/I) of Enterotoxigenic E. coli.
Enzyme linked immunosorbant assays were developed a) for the quantitation of SIgA and b) for the detection of CFA/I specific SIgA in human milk and saliva. Paired specimens of milk and saliva obtained from Sri Lankan (40), Asian immigrants to UK (12) and Caucasian UK (45) women were analysed using the above methodology.
The percentage positivity of CFA/I specific milk SIgA in Sri Lankan and Asian immigrant women were 40% and 33% respectively. CFA/I specific salivary SIgA in these two groups were 45% and 42% respectively. No CFA/I specific SIgA was detected in milk and saliva from Caucasian UK women. There was good correlation (r = 0.56, p<0.01) between CFA/I specific SIgA in breast milk and saliva from Sri Lankan and Asian immigrant women.
These findings, in addition to supporting the existence of an entero-manrnary link in SIgA production, also provide evidence for the concept of a “common mucosal immune system”.
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Nathavitharana, K., Catty, D. & McNeish, A. 3 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN E. coli COLONISATION FACTOR I SPECIFIC SECRETORY IgA IN HUMAN MILK AND SALIVA. Pediatr Res 24, 405 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198809000-00026
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198809000-00026