Abstract
Abstract It has been previously shown that the accumulation of immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody secreting cells (ASC) in the lactating mammary gland leads to secretion of antibodies into mothers’ milk and their passive transfer to the suckling newborn. The lactating mammary gland also provides a unique model in understanding the molecular mechanisms governing lymphocyte homing to the common mucosal immune system. Lymphocyte homing is mediated through a multi-step process involving the vascular expression of adhesion molecules and chemokines, as well as lymphocyte expression of cognate adhesion molecule ligands and chemokine receptors. We have previously shown that the accumulation of IgA ASC to the lactating mammary gland is highly dependant on the chemokine CCL28. However, the adhesion molecules governing this homing event have not been defined. Here we show that IgA ASC homing to the lactating mammary gland is blocked by the addition of function blocking anti-alpha4 antibodies but not function blocking anti-MAdCAM-1 antibodies. These results suggest that IgA ASC homing to the lactating mammary gland is mediated in an alpha4 beta7/MAdCAM-1 independent manner.
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