title: Gut-liver interactions in the IgA system.
abstract: Recent experimental work in rodents has demonstrated that the liver can function as an 'IgA-pump', transporting polymeric IgA from serum to bile via a secretory-component mediated uptake at the surface of the hepatic parenchymal cell. Studies are surveyed which indicate that, although this process occurs in man, it is to a strikingly lesser degree, and interruption of this pathway does not explain the high serum IgA levels often seen in chronic liver disease: the explanation for this lies in enhanced synthesis of IgA, and diminished polymeric IgA catabolism unrelated to hepatobiliary transport.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001646:Bile / Q000276:immunology; D004064:Digestive System / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000276:immunology; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; C034639:polymeric IgA