title: Oral administration of interferon-alpha induces a transient decline in oral mucosal immunoglobulins and an increase in interleukin-5.
abstract: Although administration of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) via the oral-mucosal route has shown efficacy in a variety of human and animal diseases, the mechanism of action of orally administered IFN is not clearly understood. To assess the possibility that IFN-alpha given via a lozenge alters the local mucosal immune system, immunoglobulins (Ig) and cytokines were measured in salivary secretions. Volunteers were given low doses of IFN-alpha and saliva was collected over a 24-h period. IgA and precursor IgM were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Salivary concentrations of interleukin-5 (IL-5), the T helper cytokine primarily responsible for the switch from IgM to IgA, were also determined. After oral administration of IFN-alpha, there was an initial decline in IgM and IgA followed by a return to baseline levels by 8-24 h. This change in Ig concentration was associated with a gradual increase in IL-5, consistent with the return of Ig to baseline as a result of modulation by Ig-mediating cytokines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Harper Hospital, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. pnaylor@intmed.wayne.edu
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Naylor
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Naylor
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hendrix
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Leveque
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000187:drug effects; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D015848:Interleukin-5; D007371:Interferon-gamma