title: IgA-containing plasma cells in the intestinal mucosa of children with selective IgA deficiency.
abstract: In 8 children with selective IgA deficiency (serum IgA less than 5 mg/dl, secretory IgA less than 0.5 mg/dl in unstimulated saliva) immunofluorescent staining of intestinal biopsy specimens revealed the presence of IgA-containing plasma cells. This finding supports the hypothesis that in the intestinal mucosa of patients with IgA deficiency B lymphocytes undergo "sterile" differentiation into IgA-containing plasma cells probably incapable of secreting the IgA synthesized.
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004406:Dysgammaglobulinemia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017098:IgA Deficiency; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology*