Differences in specific antibody responses of human tonsillar cells to an oral and a parenteral antigen.
Tonsillar lymphocytes stimulated in vitro with either beta-lactoglobulin or with tetanus toxoid were shown to produce specific antibodies by a direct plaque assay and by radioimmunoprecipitation of the culture supernatants. There was a sixfold increase in the number of IgA-secreting cells in response to beta-lactoglobulin; no such effect was seen in response to tetanus toxoid, where a fivefold rise in IgG-secreting cells occurred. These differences in antibody response are probably due to the route of initial antigen presentation. Those antigens priming the mucosa-associated lymphoid system stimulate mainly IgA-producing cells, in contrast to parenteral antigens, which elicit a predominantly IgM and IgG response.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007782:Lactoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology*; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology
D000941:Antigens; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007782:Lactoglobulins; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid