Abstract
In addition to the free form, IgA is associated with cellular and noncellular elements present in human colostrum. To resolve the existing controversy as to the cell type(s) containing IgA, we used immunoelectron microscopy with horseradish peroxidase-labeled F(ab′)2 or Fab′ fragments of anti-IgA or anti-IgM to determine the distribution of these immunoglobulins in colostral elements. IgA and IgM were localized in phagocytic vacuoles of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages in the vicinity of the cell membrane. In neutrophilic leukocytes, both immunoglobulins were occasionally found in phagocytic vacuoles distributed throughout the cytoplasm. Although thein vitro phagocytic activity of colostral cells was low, they retained the ability to ingest colloidal gold particles which were subsequently localized in phagocytic vacuoles that also contained IgA or IgM. IgA and IgM were not detected in lymphocytes, and plasma cells were not found in human colostrum. Numerous noncellular colostral globules of various shapes and sizes also contained IgA and IgM. These observations indicate that IgA and IgM were acquired by phagocytic cells and noncellular globules and were not actively synthesized by lymphoid cells present in human colostrum.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Hanson LÅ, Winberg J: Breast milk and defense against infection in the newborn. Arch Dis Child 47:845–848, 1972
Goldman AS, Smith CW: Host resistance factors in human milk. J Pediat 82:1082–1090, 1973
Welsh JK, May JT: Anti-infective properties of breast milk. J Pediat 94:1–9, 1979
Pittard WB III: Breast milk immunology. Am J Dis Child 133:83–87, 1979
Smith CW, Goldman AS: The cells of human colostrum. I. In vitro studies of morphology and function. Pediat Res 2:103–109, 1968
Smith CW, Goldman AS, Yates RD: Interaction of lymphocytes and macrophages from human colostrum. Exp Cell Res 69:409–415, 1971
Crago SS, Prince SJ, Pretlow TG, McGhee JR, Mestecky J: Human colostral cells. I. Separation and characterization. Clin Exp Immunol 38:585–597, 1979
Ho FCS, Wong RLC, Lawton JWM: Human colostral and breast milk cells. A light and electron microscopic study. Acta Paediat Scand 68:389–396, 1979
Ogra SS, Weintraub DL, Ogra PL: Immunological aspects of human colostrum and milk: Interaction with the intestinal immunity of the neonate. Adv Exp Med Biol 107:95–107, 1978
Laven GT, Crago SS, Kutteh WH, Mestecky J: Hemolytic plaque formation by cellular and noncellular elements of human colostrum. J Immunol 127:1967–1972, 1981
Murillo GJ, Goldman AS: The cells of colostrum. II. Synthesis of IgA and β1C. Pediat Res 4:71–75, 1970
Goldblum RM, Ahlstedt S, Carlsson B, Hanson LÅ, Jodal U, Lindin-Janson G, Sohl-Åkerlund A: Antibody-forming cells in human colostrum after oral immunisation. Nature 257:797–798, 1975
Ahlstedt S, Carlsson B, Hanson LÅ, Goldblum RM: Antibody production by human colostral cells. I. Immunoglobulin class, specificity and quantity. Scand J Immunol 4:535–539, 1975
Pittard WB, Polmar SH III, Fanaroff AA: The breast milk macrophage: A potential vehicle for immunoglobulin transport. J Reticuloendothel Soc 22:597–603, 1977
Weaver EA, Goldblum RM, Davis CP, Goldman AS: Enhanced immunoglobulin A release from human colostral cells during phagocytosis. Infect Immun 34:498–502, 1981
Lodinova R, Tlaskalova-Hogenova H: Role of breast feeding for the nutrition and immunologic development of the infant.In Infectious Diarrhea in Infancy and Its Nutritional Consequences, JA Bellanti (ed). International Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of Immunology (in press)
Wooding FBP, Peaker M, Linzell JL: Theories of milk secretion: Evidence from the electron microscopic examination of milk. Nature 226:762–764, 1970
Mestecky J, Kulhavy R, Kraus FW: Studies on human secretory immunoglobulin A. II. Subunit structure. J Immunol 108:738–747, 1972
Schrohenloher RE, Mestecky J: Recombination of the polypeptide chains of a Waldenström's IgM binds IgG. J Immunol 111:1699–1711, 1973
Crago SS, Mestecky J: Secretory component: Interaction with intracellular and surface immunoglobulins of human lymphoid cells. J Immunol 122:906–911, 1979
Kutteh WH, Prince SJ, Phillips JO, Spenney JG, Mestecky J: Properties of immunoglobulin A in serum of individuals with liver diseases and in hepatic bile. Gastroenterology 82:184–193, 1982
Wilson MB, Nakane PK: Recent developments in the periodate method of conjugating horseradish peroxidase (HRPO) to antibodies.In Immunofluorescence and Related Staining Techniques, W Knapp, K Holubar, G Wick (eds). Amsterdam, Elsevier North-Holland Biomedical Press, 1978, pp 215–224
Nakane PK, Kawaoi A: Peroxidase-labeled antibody. A new method of conjugation. J Histochem Cytochem 22:1084–1091, 1974
Straus W: Factors affecting the sensitivity and specificity of the cytochemical reaction for the anti-horseradish peroxidase antibody in lymph tissue sections. J Histochem Cytochem 28:645–652, 1980
Yokota S, Fahimi HD: The peroxisome (microbody) membrane: Effects of detergents and lipid solvents on its ultrastructure and permeability to catalase. Histochem J 10:469–487, 1978
Yokota S, Fahimi HD: Immunocytochemical localization of catalase in rat liver. J Histochem Cytochem 29:805–812, 1981
Graham RC, Karnovsky MJ: The early stages of absorption of injected horseradish peroxidase in the proximal tubules of mouse kidney: Ultrastructural cytochemistry by a new technique. J Histochem Cytochem 14:291–302, 1966
Vincent RA, Spicer SS: Giant dense bodies in fibroblasts cultured from beige mice with the Chediak-Higashi Syndrome. AM J Pathol 105:270–278, 1966
Spiegelberg HL, Lawrence DA, Henson P: Cytophilic properties of IgA to human neutrophils. Adv Exp Med Biol 45:67–74, 1974
Fanger MW, Shen L, Pugh J, Bernier GM: Subpopulations of human peripheral granulocytes and monocytes express receptors for IgA. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 77:3640–3644, 1980
Tomino Y, Sakai H, Endoh M, Kaneshige H, Nomoto Y: Detection of immune complexes in polymorphonuclear leukocytes by double immunofluorescence in patients with IgA nephropathy. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 24:63–71, 1982
Helminen HJ, Ericsson JLE: Studies on mammary gland involution. I. On the ultrastructure of the lactating mammary gland. J Ultrastruct Res 25:193–213, 1968
Seeling LL Jr, Beer AE: Transepithelial migration of leukocytes in the mammary gland of lactating rats. Biol Reprod 17:736–744, 1978
Salazar H, Tobon H: Morphologic changes of the mammary gland during development, pregnancy and lactation.In Lactogenic Hormones, Fetal Nutrition and Lactation, JB Josimovich (ed). New York, John Wiley & Sons, 1974, pp 221–277
Brandtzaeg P: The secretory immune system of lactating human mammary glands compared with other exocrine organs. Ann NY Acad Sci 409:353–382, 1983
Kraehenbühl JP, Racine L, Galardy RE: Localization of secretory IgA, secretory component, and α chain in the mammary gland of lactating rabbit by immunoelectron microscopy. Ann NY Acad Sci 254:190–202, 1975
Fujimura M, Chen ST, Sudo T, Kumaya T, Saito T: Cellular sites of immunoglobulin. VII. Localization of immunoglobulins in female mammary gland. Acta Histochem Cytochem 14:163–167, 1981
Folds JD, Prince HE, Spitznagel JK: Limited cleavage of human immunoglobulins by elastase of human neutrophil polymorphonuclear granulocytes. Possible modulator of immune complex disease. Lab Invest 39:313–321, 1978
Tax A, Korngold L: Comparison of the effect of elastase on human secretory IgA and serum IgA. J Immunol 107:1189–1191, 1971
Prince HE, Folds JD, Spitznagel JK: Interaction of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase with human IgM.In vitro production of an Fabμ-like fragment. Mol Immunol 16:301–306, 1979
Underdown BJ, Dorrington KJ: Studies on the structural and conformational basis for the relative resistance of serum and secretory immunoglobulin A to proteolysis. J Immunol 112:949–959, 1974
Lindh E: Increased resistance of immunoglobulin dimers to proteolytic degradation after binding of secretory component. J Immunol 114:284–286, 1975
Underdown BJ, Schiff JM, Nagy B, Fisher MM: Differences in processing of polymeric IgA and asialoglycoproteins by the rat liver. Ann NY Acad Sci 409:402–410, 1983
Feldman DG: Origin and distribution of virus-like particles associated with mammary tumors in DBA strain mice. I. Virus-like particles in mammary gland tissue. J Natl Cancer Inst 30:477–501, 1962
Ceriani RL, Thompson K, Peterson JA, Abraham S: Surface differentiation antigens of human mammary epithelial cells carried on the milk fat globule: Proc Natl Acad Sci 74:582–586, 1977
Hanson LÅ, Brandtzaeg P: The mucosal defense system.In Immunologic Disorders in Infants and Children, ER Stiehm, VA Fulginiti (eds). Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 1980, pp 137–164
Glass RI, Svennerholm A-M, Stoll BJ, Khan MR, Hossain KMB, Huq MI, Holmgren J: Protection against cholera in breast-fed children by antibodies in breast milk: N Engl J Med 308:1389–1392, 1983
Weaver EA, Tsuda H, Goldblum RM, Goldman AS, Davis CP: Relationship between phagocytosis and immunoglobulin A release from human colostral macrophages. Infect Immun 38-1073–1077, 1982
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Moro, I., Crago, S.S. & Mestecky, J. Localization of IgA and IgM in human colostral elements using immunoelectron microscopy. J Clin Immunol 3, 382–391 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00915800
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00915800