Distribution of plasma cells and other cells containing immunoglobulin in the respiratory tract of normal man and class of immunoglobulin contained therein.

Abstract

). Thorax, 31,[158][159][160][161][162][163][164][165][166]. Distribution of plasma cell and other ceils containing immunoglobulin in the respiratory tract of normal man and class of immunoglobulin contained therein. The anatomical distribution of plasma cells and other cells containing immunoglobulin in the respiratory tract, and the relative proportions of the immunoglobulin classes, have been estimated on necropsy tissues from nine adult human subjects without respiratory disease, five non-smokers and four smokers, none of whom had cough or sputum. Cell counts on multiple sections stained by immunofluorescent methods for the presence of immunoglobulin were carried out on the upper trachea, main bronchus, and lower lobe bronchus.Cells containing immunoglobulin were found mostly in the submucous glands but were also present in the lamina propria of the tracheal and bronchial epithelium. These cells were present in the greatest concentration in the main bronchus and were always present in the lobar bronchus and, in most subjects, in the upper trachea. The cells were not always present round small bronchi and bronchioles and were virtually absent from alveolar walls.Cells containing IgA were much more numerous than those containing other immunoglobulin classes in all subjects except one, in whom IgG and IgE cells were equally numerous. Two subjects appeared to be significantly different from the rest. One nonsmoking subject had a marked deficiency of IgA cells at all sampling sites, and one smoker had a marked excess of IgA cells. In spite of these two subjects there was no significant difference between smokers and non-smokers except in the lobar bronchus where the smokers had significantly more IgA cells than the non-smokers.

Localization of IgE Synthesis in Immediate-Type Allergy of the Upper Respiratory Tract (With 3 color plates)

“…To clarify whether there are IgE-producing plasma cells present in the allergic nasal mucosa as proposed by various authors [1,14,30], we stained serial sections with antiIgE, CD 19 and CD 38 alternatively. The monoclonal antibodies CD 19 and CD 38 recognize B lymphocytes from the pre-B-cell stage to the mature plasma cell.…”

“…Just a few years after the first description of IgE the presence of IgE-associated cells was demonstrated in the nasal mucosa by fluorescence techniques [32], In this as well as in later immunohistochemical studies [ 1,16,30] the stained cells were mainly identi fied as IgE-producing plasma cells. Because of a high IgE/IgG ratio, IgE/albumin ratio [13,[19][20][21][22]28] or specific IgE/total IgE ra tio [24,26] in nasal secretion it was as sumed that the nasal mucosa itself was able to produce at least a great part of IgE.…”

The Importance of Chronic Bronchitis in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“…Submucosal glands are composed of a central acinus consisting of serous cells, and a tubule lined with mucous cells. Plasma cells (responsible for the production of IgA) are also found in the submucosal glands (57). The serous and mucous cells of the bronchial glands secrete the majority of the bronchial secretions, although goblet cells, and both the serous and clara cells of the airway epithelium make important contributions.…”

Antibody-Mediated Immunity to Fungi in the Lungs

“…Further, far fewer Ab-secreting cells in the bronchial mucosa produce IgG than IgA (Soutar, 1976). IgG can enter the upper airway by passive diffusion or transudation from serum or following production by plasma cells in the bronchial mucosa (Soutar, 1976;Lamm, 1997;Brandtzaeg et al, 1997).…”

“…IgA predominates in fluid obtained by distal airway lavage, accounting for about half of the total immunoglobulin. IgA-producing cells are found in the lamina propria of bronchioles but are absent from terminal bronchioles and alveolar epithelium (Soutar, 1976). The proportion of IgG in this compartment is increased compared to the upper airways.…”