Abstract
To investigate the influence of immunization routes onIgG, IgA and IgM production in systemic and mucosal compartments, we immunized mice with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) via oral, intranasal (i.n.) or subcutaneous (s.c.) routes alone or combined with the intravenous (i.v.) route. We found that administering antigen intravenously could affect antibody production and formation of antibody secreting cells (ASCs) depending on the immunization route previously used. Combined oral/i.v. immunization but not s.c./i.v. immunization caused a great increase of IgA ASCs in the spleen and enhanced IgA production in the small intestine and serum. Combined i.n./i.v. immunization could also increase IgA ASCs in the spleen and enhance IgA production in serum but had no effect on IgA production in the small intestine. Oral/i.v. immunization caused increase of IgG ASCs in both the spleen and bone marrow. In comparison, combined i.n./i.v. and s.c./i.v. immunization could increase IgG ASCs in the spleen but not in bone marrow. Intravenous administration of KLH in mice that had been immunized via oral, i.n. or s.c. routes caused some increase of IgM ASCs in the spleen but not in bone marrow. In conclusion, combined oral and i.v. administration of an antigen can induce fast and strong immune responses, especially for IgA, in both systemic and mucosal compartments.
Highlights
The effector sites of immunocytes against invading pathogens are limited in certain compartments in the body
Enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays for keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH)-specific antibody secreting cells (ASCs) induced by different immunization routes
To compare Ag-specific immune responses after immunization via oral, i.n. and s.c. routes alone or in combination with the i.v. route, we examined levels of KLH-specific ASCs in the spleen, bone marrow and blood
Summary
The effector sites of immunocytes against invading pathogens are limited in certain compartments in the body. For antibody secreting cells (ASCs), they are mainly located in the lamina propria of the mucosa, bone marrow, peripheral lymphatic tissue and inflammation sites [1, 2]. ASCs at different sites express antibodies with different isotype preferences. Serum antibodies are expressed by ASCs in peripheral lymphatic tissue and bone marrow. IgG is the predominant antibody while IgA and IgM are less so and IgE is extremely little. Mucosal antibodies are mainly expressed by ASCs in the lamina propria of the mucosa.
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