Oral—parenteral immunization leads to the appearance of IgG auto-anti-idiotypic cells in mucosal tissues

Abstract

The appearance of plasma cells, specific for antigen or autologous idiotypic antibody, in rabbits immunized systemically, orally, or orally-systemically was determined using immunofluorescence techniques. Oral or parenteral immunizations alone did not lead to the appearance of anti-idiotypic cells in mucosal tissues, although IgA antigen-binding cells were observed in these sites after the oral administration of antigen. However, when rabbits were primed with orally administered antigen, followed by a regimen of concurrent oral—parenteral immunizations, IgG anti-idiotypic plasma cells were demonstrated in mucosal lymphoid tissues.