title: The epithelium overlying rabbit bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue does not express the secretory component of immunoglobulin A.
abstract: The epithelium associated with lymphoid aggregates in the bronchial tract (BALT) was studied in rabbits by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies against the secretory component (SC) of IgA. The normal bronchus epithelium was intensely labelled. In contrast, epithelium overlying the central parts of the follicles was negative. This specialized epithelium cannot participate in the SC-mediated transport of IgA, which might be a basis for the adherence and transport of microorganisms into the lymphoid tissue, thus initiating immune responses of the BALT.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Anatomy, Medical School of Hannover, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gehrke
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pabst
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000378:metabolism*; D007137:Immunoglobulin alpha-Chains / Q000378:metabolism*; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007137:Immunoglobulin alpha-Chains