title: Evolution, development, mechanism and function of IgA in the gut.
abstract: Since its discovery as the most abundant Ig produced at mucosal surfaces, IgA has been the subject of continuous studies. The concepts emerged were that the precursors for IgA plasma cells are efficiently generated in follicular organized structures in the gut with the help of CD4 T cells and that secretory IgA provides protection against mucosal pathogens. Novel conceptual advances have been made in the past few years in describing new sites, mechanisms and functions of mucosal IgA synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Mucosal Immunity, RIKEN Research Center for Allergy and Immunology, 230-0045 Tsurumi, Yokohama, Japan. sidonia-f@rcai.riken.jp
authors.forename: Sidonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fagarasan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003564:Cytidine Deaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D017578:Immunoglobulin Class Switching; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D010581:Peyer's Patches / Q000276:immunology; D027041:Somatic Hypermutation, Immunoglobulin; D000098830:AICDA (Activation-Induced Cytidine Deaminase)
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D000098830:AICDA (Activation-Induced Cytidine Deaminase); D003564:Cytidine Deaminase