Work

Immunoglobulin Responses at the Mucosal Interface

Year: 2011

Type: review

Abstract: Mucosal surfaces are colonized by large communities of commensal bacteria and represent the primary site of entry for pathogenic agents. To prevent microbial intrusion, mucosal B cells release large amounts of immunoglobulin (Ig) molecules through multiple follicular and extrafollicular pathways. IgA is the most abundant antibody isotype in mucosal secretions and owes its success in frontline immunity to its ability to undergo transcytosis across epithelial cells. In addition to translocating IgA onto the mucosal surface, epithelial cells educate the mucosal immune system as to the composition of the local microbiota and instruct B cells to initiate IgA responses that generate immune protection while preserving immune homeostasis. Here we review recent advances in our understanding of the cellular interactions and signaling pathways governing IgA production at mucosal surfaces and discuss new findings on the regulation and function of mucosal IgD, the most enigmatic isotype of our mucosal antibody repertoire.

Source: Annual Review of Immunology

DOI: 10.1146/annurev-immunol-031210-101317

Authors: Andrea Cerutti, Kang Chen, Alejo Chorny

Institutions: Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Hospital Del Mar, Municipal Institute for Medical Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Language: English

Topic: T-cell and B-cell Immunology

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases