title: Both IgA subclasses are reduced in parotid saliva from patients with AIDS.
abstract: Secretory IgA (SIgA), the isotypes IgA1 and IgA2, and IgM were measured by ELISA in stimulated parotid saliva from patients with AIDS (n = 16), subjects with asymptomatic HIV infection (n = 28), and HIV-seronegative healthy controls (n = 19). SIgA was significantly reduced in the AIDS group (10.4 micrograms/ml) compared with the asymptomatic HIV-infected subjects (17.1 micrograms/ml) and the controls (23.0 micrograms/ml). This decrease comprised both IgA1 and IgA2 to a similar extent on a relative basis. The SIgA decrease in AIDS patients was in striking contrast to their serum IgA level, which was significantly increased (6.9 g/l) compared with the asymptomatic HIV-infected subjects (2.9 g/l) as well as the controls (2.8 g/l). Low parotid output of SIgA in patients with HIV infection was associated with low numbers of CD4+ lymphocytes in peripheral blood as well as the presence of oral infections. The parotid output of IgM was similar in all groups. A low level of SIgA in the external secretions of patients with AIDS may well contribute to their frequent mucosal infections of opportunistic microorganisms.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Immunohistochemistry and Immunopathology (LIIPAT), University of Oslo, Rikshospitalet, Norway.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Frøland
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hvatum
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Radl
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brandtzaeg
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000032:analysis; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000276:immunology; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015683:Gene Products, gag; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D014758:Viral Core Proteins