Abstract
Levels of secretory IgA (SIgA) and free secretory component (FSC) and titres of antibodies against E.coli and rabbit erythrocytes (RaRBC) were determined in samples of unstimulated (US) and stimulated (SS) saliva from 166 normal subjects of 2 months to 33 years of age. SIgA levels, present in all infants at 2 months (mean 4 mg/dl in US and 1 mg/dl in SS), behaved in a parallel fashion in US and SS decreasing slightly at 6 months but then increasing to adult values at 7 years (15 mg/dl in US and 4.5 mg/dl in SS). Similarly E.coli and RaRBC antibodies increased with age in US and reached adult values at 6-8 years. On the other hand FSC levels showed no age-dependent changes although a slight but not significant decrease occurred in US and SS after 4 years. Simultaneous evaluation of these 4 simple parameters allowed demonstration of a more gradual maturation of the secretory immune system than suggested by earlier reports based on less systematic studies.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Burgio, G., Lanzavecchia, A., Plebani, A. et al. 26 ONTOGENETIC ASPECTS OF SECRETORY IMMUNITY. Pediatr Res 13, 952 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197908000-00042
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197908000-00042