title: [Secretory immunity of the airways].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Continuous exposure of the respiratory tract to inhaled particles and microbes implies the presence of effective defence mechanisms at a bronchial and alveolar level.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Among the mechanisms involved secretory mucosal immunity contributes considerably to the defence of the bronchial tree. This immunity depends essentially on the active trans-epithelial transport of IgA involved in both innate non-specific and acquired specific immunity. Recently an IgA receptor has been identified on the surface of phagocytes including alveolar macrophages, establishing a link between alveolar and bronchial defences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The respiratory mucosa represents a crucial interface between the host and its environment, and should provide in the future a new target for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Beyond its function as an anatomical barrier the bronchial epithelium possesses a secretory activity that is essential for the protection of the lung. Despite a better understanding of mucosal immunity this secretory activity and in particular the part played by IgA remains to be elucidated.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne, Cliniques Universitaires, UCL Mont-Godinne, Belgique.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maury
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pilette
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sibille
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017098:IgA Deficiency; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000502:physiology; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000502:physiology; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D014612:Vaccines
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C036832:Fc(alpha) receptor; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D014612:Vaccines