Science alert
Function of immunoglobulin A in immunity
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Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is by far the most abundant immunoglobulin in humans.1 It is also the most heterogeneous. Serum IgA is mainly monomeric. It is produced by B lymphocytes in the bone marrow and in some lymphoid organs. Humans produce as much serum IgA as they do IgG. Most of the IgA in mammals is, however, found in mucosal secretions. Secretory IgA is dimeric or polymeric IgA associated with J chain and with secretory component, a part of the receptor involved in the secretion process.
Recent research2 has suggested that secretory IgA in the
gut comes from two sources. Approximately 75% is from B2 lymphocytes in organised germinal centres of mucosal lymphoid tissues such as
Peyer's patches. This IgA production is T lymphocyte dependent. A
second source, possibly contributing around 25% of the secretory IgA,
is produced by B1 lymphocytes that develop in the peritoneal cavity and
are distributed
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