title: Evaluation of IgA1-IgA2 levels in serum and saliva of young and elderly people.
abstract: The distribution of immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1) and IgA2 was determined in saliva and in serum of young and old donors by using monoclonal antibodies to the IgA subclasses in a solid-phase radioimmunoassay. In the 26 elderly patients examined, the level of immunoglobulin A occurred predominantly in the IgA1 subclass both in saliva and in serum. By contrast, the IgA2 level was lower compared to levels obtained in young people even in the presence of normal concentrations of total IgA. Since IgA2 are of mucosal origin, these results suggest that the reduction of tissues associated with secretory surfaces may account for the decreased ability to secrete IgA2 in the elderly in particular into saliva. Moreover this event might in part justify the impaired mucosal immunoresistance and explain the increased incidence of pulmonary infections during senescence.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Medicina Clinica, University of Bari, Medical School.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Ventura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides