title: [The local immune system of ocular surface].
abstract: Local immunity on the ocular surface was observed in guinea pigs immunized with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) by determining the activity of a specific antibody in local sites of the conjunctiva by the enzyme-antigen method, which enables a specific antibody to be stained. In addition, immunohistochemical study of the localization of IgA was performed by the enzyme-labelled antibody method. The enzyme-antigen method revealed a number of positive cells in the subconjunctival tissue and the parafollicular area of conjunctival-associated lymphoid tissue. These cells were identified as plasma cells by electron microscopy. The mirror section technique revealed that the cells positive for the enzyme-antigen method were consistent with anti-IgA-positive cells at many sites. Thus the distribution of plasma cells secreting IgA-specific antibody responsible for local immunity on the ocular surface was observed immunohistochemically. The results suggest that immunocytes in the conjunctival-associated lymphoid tissue differentiate and mature into specific antibody-producing plasma cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Inada
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shoji
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kasai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000276:immunology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A