Immunoglobulin A Concentration Research Articles

The Salivary IgA Flow Rate Is Increased by High Concentrations of Short-Chain Fatty Acids in the Cecum of Rats Ingesting Fructooligosaccharides.

Salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) serves as a major effector in mucosal immunity by preventing submucosal invasion of pathogens. However, the mechanism by which consumption of fermentable fibers increases IgA in saliva was not fully elucidated. This study investigated the effects of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) intake and time after feeding on IgA levels in the saliva and cecal digesta and on the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the cecum in rats. Five-week-old rats were fed a fiber-free diet or a diet with 50 g/kg FOS for zero, one, four, and eight weeks. Ingestion of FOS at one and eight weeks led to a higher IgA flow rate of saliva per weight of submandibular gland tissue (p < 0.05), which positively correlated with the concentration of SCFA in the cecal digesta (rs = 0.86, p = 0.0006, n = 12), but showed no correlation with the concentration of IgA in the cecal digesta (rs = 0.15, p = 0.3, n = 48). These results suggested that ingestion of FOS increased salivary IgA secretion through high levels of SCFA in the large intestine, which was produced by fermentation of FOS. Thus, continuously ingesting FOS for more than one week could increase secretion of salivary IgA.

Influence of Breed Size, Age, Fecal Quality, and Enteropathogen Shedding on Fecal Calprotectin and Immunoglobulin A Concentrations in Puppies During the Weaning Period.

BackgroundFecal calprotectin and immunoglobulin A (IgA) are markers of intestinal inflammation and immunity in adult dogs.HypothesisFecal calprotectin and IgA concentrations in puppies are not influenced by fecal moisture in puppies but by enteropathogen shedding.AnimalsThree hundred and twenty‐four puppies.MethodsFecal consistency was assessed by gross examination. Fecal moisture was evaluated before and after lyophilization. Canine parvovirus and coronavirus were detected in feces by qPCR and qRT‐PCR respectively. Giardia intestinalis antigen was quantified by ELISA. The standard McMaster flotation technique was used to detect eggs and oocysts in feces. Fecal calprotectin and IgA concentrations were quantified by in‐house radioimmunoassays.ResultsFor each marker (IgA and calprotectin), a strong positive correlation was observed between concentration in fresh feces and concentration in fecal dry matter. 75.6% of the puppies were found to be infected by at ≥1 of the enteropathogens evaluated. Fecal calprotectin concentration was significantly influenced by age (P = .001), with higher concentrations in younger puppies, but not by viral (P = .863) or parasitic infection (P = .791). Fecal IgA concentration was significantly influenced by enteropathogen shedding (P = .01), with a lower fecal IgA concentration in puppies shedding at ≥1 enteropathogen compared to puppies without any enteropathogen shedding, but not by age.ConclusionsFecal calprotectin and IgA are of no diagnostic value to detect presence of enteropathogens in clinically healthy puppies or puppies with abnormal feces, but could help to better understand the maturation of digestive tract.

Effects of dietary mannan oligosaccharide supplementation on performance and immune response of sows and their offspring

The present study investigated the effects of mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) supplementation of the diets of sows and/or their offspring on maternal and offspring performance and immune status. Sixty multiparous sows were fed either the control diet (sCON, n=30) or the control diet containing 400mg/kg MOS (sMOS, n=30) from d 86 of gestation until weaning. On d 7 of age, offspring were assigned within sow treatments to the piglet basal diet (pCON) or the piglet basal diet supplemented with 800mg/kg MOS (pMOS) for 28days. No dietary effect was observed on the number of total piglets born and born alive and the piglet weight at birth. Immunoglobulins concentrations in sow colostrum and milk were not affected by sow diet MOS supplementation (P>0.05). However, the weaning to estrus interval of sows was shortened significantly in the sMOS treatment compared with that of the sCON treatment (P=0.05). The weaning weight (P=0.03) and pre-weaning weight gains (P=0.01) of piglets from the sMOS sows were greater than that of piglets from the sCON sows. Furthermore, piglets from sMOS had higher serum concentrations of immunoglobulin A (IgA) (P<0.01), immunoglobulin G (IgG) (P<0.01), complement 3 (C3) (P<0.01), complement 4 (C4) (P=0.05) and lysozyme (LYZ) (P<0.01) at weaning, as well as C3 (P<0.01) and LYZ (P<0.01) on d 35 of age. Piglet dietary MOS improved both pre- and post-weaning weight gain (P<0.01) and increased serum concentrations of IgA (P=0.01) and IgG (P=0.01) at weaning, as well as C3 (P<0.01), LYZ (P<0.01) and C4 (P=0.01) on d 35 of age. Piglets coming from both supplemented groups, sow and piglet’s diets, showed the best performance and immune status at weaning and at 35 d of life. These results may suggest that those improvements at the pre-weaning stage may be partly derived by MOS sow’s supplementation, being additive its effect when MOS were also added in pre- and post-weaning piglet diets.

Non-invasive quantification of immunoglobulin A in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) at Gombe National Park, Tanzania.

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the primary antibody responsible for mucosal defense in mammals and has been used as a marker for chronic stress and immune status. Therefore, this antibody may provide a more reliable indicator of an individual's immunocompetence than is currently available through other methods. Immunoglobulin A has never before been quantified in a wild population of non-human primates using non-invasive sample collection techniques. In this study, we present methodology for non-invasive IgA extraction in the field and provide quantification of mean fecal IgA concentrations in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii). During the study period (November 2009-October 2010), we collected fecal samples (N = 1463) from 59 individuals at Gombe National Park, Tanzania. We modified a field extraction technique for steroidal hormones to extract IgA from the fecal samples and then quantified mean IgA concentrations (ng/g) using a commercial human IgA enzyme immunoassay. Mean IgA concentration varied among individuals but not by sex or reproductive status. Mature animals tended toward higher mean IgA concentration than immature. Mean IgA concentration differed by quartile season, following a similar pattern previously observed for respiratory illness rates in this population, with the late dry season having significantly higher averages than the late wet. A circadian rhythm was also evident with mean IgA concentrations higher in samples collected in the latter half of the day. These demographic and temporal patterns of IgA concentration provide baseline values necessary to interpret future results, which may be combined with other health values to better understand the role of health and long-term stress in wild great ape populations. Am. J. Primatol. 80:e22558, 2018. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Possibility of using salivary ultra-weak chemiluminescence as a biomarker for feelings of anxiety in hospital settings.

The aim of this study was to assess whether a particular value of noninvasive salivary ultra-weak chemiluminescence (UCL) could be used as a biomarker of psychological stress. Our study covered two groups. Group 1 comprised six healthy volunteers who stayed in a hospital for one night and group 2 comprised 15 patients with lung cancer and 24 patients with respiratory diseases other than lung cancer who were in hospital for an extended stay. First, we evaluated the UCL of saliva from six healthy volunteers before and after one night in hospital. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations were also measured. The integrated intensity value of UCL was correlated with the IgA concentration (correlation coefficient 0.90). Second, in the case of a long hospital stay, we found that the maximum salivary UCL intensities were higher in patients with lung cancer than in those with respiratory diseases other than lung cancer or in 28 healthy controls. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Serum Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Level Is a Potential Biomarker Indicating Cirrhosis during Chronic Hepatitis B Infection.

Background. Serum immunoglobulins (Igs) are frequently elevated in patients with chronic liver disease, but currently there is a lack of sufficient data on serum Igs in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection. This study aimed to evaluate serum IgA, IgG, and IgM levels in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis and to analyze, if altered, immunoglobulin levels that were associated with cirrhosis progress. Methods. A cohort of 174 CHB patients including 104 with cirrhosis (32 decompensated and 72 compensated) and 70 without cirrhosis and 55 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum immunoglobulin levels and biochemical and virological parameters were determined in the enrollment blood samples. Results. Serum IgA levels were significantly increased in cirrhosis group compared with noncirrhosis group and healthy controls (all P < 0.001). Furthermore, serum IgA concentrations in decompensated cirrhosis patients were significantly higher than that of compensated patients (P = 0.002). Multivariate analysis suggested that serum IgA, platelets, and albumin were independent predictors for cirrhosis (all P < 0.001). Conclusions. Elevated IgA levels may function as an independent factor indicating cirrhosis, and there appears to be a strong association between increasing serum IgA level and disease progressing in patients with chronic HBV infection.

Effects of sodium butyrate supplementation on reproductive performance and colostrum composition in gilts

Nutrients are essential for the health and survival of human beings and animals. Also, they play a major role in enhancing reproductive efficiency. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of sodium butyrate (SB) on reproductive performance and colostrum composition in gilts. A total of 40 Large White×Landrace replacement gilts (at the age of 160 to 175 days) were fed either a standard diet (control group, n=20) or standard diet top dressed with encapsulated SB at the level of 500 mg/kg (SB group, n=20) from 1 month before mating to 7 days after farrowing. The rate of gilts regular return to estrus after insemination was lower in SB group than the control group. The total number of piglets born (P=0.179) and the litter weight at birth (P=0.063) did not differ between the two treatment groups. However, the mean BW at day 7 tended to be greater in SB group (P=0.051) and average daily gain of piglets was greater (P=0.011) compared with control group. Colostrum samples were collected at parturition and the concentrations of total protein (P=0.197), cholesterol (P=0.161) and lactose (P=0.923) were not influenced by SB supplementation. However, compared with control gilts, colostrum from SB-treated gilts contained lower triglyceride (P=0.050). Moreover, colostrum concentrations of prolactin (P=0.005) and leptin (P=0.006) were significantly lower in SB group. No significant differences were noted for the colostral concentrations of cortisol (P=0.899), thyroxine (P=0.891) or triiodothyronine (P=0.194). The concentration of lipopolysaccharide in colostrum was not influenced by SB supplementation (P=0.972). However, colostrum from SB-treated gilts had significantly lower tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) (P=0.030) and higher immunoglobulin A (IgA) (P=0.042). Collectively, SB supplementation could reduce the rate of gilts return to estrus, alter the composition of colostrum and enhance the growth rate of piglets. Moreover, SB could alter the immune function of newborn piglets through decreased production of TNFα and increased IgA concentration in colostrum.

Infant gut immunity: a preliminary study of IgA associations with breastfeeding.

Secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) plays a critical role in gut mucosal immune defense. Initially provided by breastmilk, IgA production by the infant gut is gradually stimulated by developing gut microbiota. This study reports associations between infant fecal IgA concentrations 4 months after birth, breastfeeding status and other pre/postnatal exposures in 47 infants in the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development cohort. Breastfed infants and first-born infants had higher median fecal IgA concentrations (23.11 v. 9.34 µg/g protein, P<0.01 and 22.19 v. 8.23 µg/g protein, P=0.04). IgA levels increased successively with exclusivity of breastfeeding (β-coefficient, 0.37, P<0.05). This statistical association was independent of maternal parity and household pets. In the absence of breastfeeding, female sex and pet exposure elevated fecal IgA to levels found in breastfed infants. In addition to breastfeeding, infant fecal IgA associations with pre/postnatal exposures may affect gut immunity and risk of allergic disease.

Exposures influencing total IgA level in colostrum

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is a predominant immunoglobulin present in human breast milk and is known to play an important role in infant gut immunity maturation. Breast milk composition varies between populations, but the environmental and maternal factors responsible for these variations are still unclear. We examined the relationship between different exposures and levels of IgA in colostrum. The objective of this study was to examine whether exposures analysed influence levels of IgA in colostrum. The present study used 294 colostrum samples from the MecMilk International cohort, collected from women residing in London, Moscow and Verona. Samples were analysed in automated Abbott Architect Analyser. We found an inverse correlation between time postpartum and colostrum total IgA level (r=-0.49, P<0.001). Adjusting for maternal parity, smoking, fresh fruit and fish consumption and allergen sensitization, multiple regression model showed that IgA levels were influenced by colostrum collection time (P<0.0001) and country of collection (P<0.01). Mode of delivery influence did not appear to be significant in univariate comparisons, once adjusted for the above maternal characteristics it showed a significant influence on total IgA (P=0.01). We conclude that the concentration of IgA in colostrum drops rapidly after birth and future studies should always consider this factor in analysis. IgA concentration varied significantly between countries, with the highest level detected in Moscow and lowest in Verona. Mode of delivery effect should be confirmed on larger cohorts. Further work is needed to determine ways to correct for IgA decline over time in colostrum, and to find the cause of variations in IgA levels between the countries.

Physiological and biochemical responses during incremental uphill load carriage

The present study aimed to examine the effect of carrying different magnitudes of load on the changes and relationships of salivary Immunoglobulin A (IgA) and cortisol concentrations and the physiological parameters. Twelve Indian soldiers performed an intense uphill treadmill walking at two speeds viz. 2.5 km h−1 and 4 km h−1 without any load and carrying 10.7 kg, 17 kg and 21.4 kg loads for 36 min. Salivary IgA concentration relative to total protein decreased significantly after each exercise session and cortisol concentration increased concomitantly with physiological variables e.g. heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption (VO2), minute ventilation (VE) and energy expenditure (EE). An inverse correlation (P < 0.05) was observed between IgA with HR for all the conditions except when the participants walked at 4 km h−1 carrying 17 kg and 21.4 kg load. The degree and type of physiological and biochemical responses may help in designing combat training, operations and developing preventive strategies of military personnel involving intense exercise.Relevance to industry: Walking with load in incremental uphill terrain is highly stressful and fatiguing. Results of the present study will help in designing training schedules for maintaining the optimal fitness of an individual during uphill walking with loads in different speeds.

Lactobacillus kunkeei YB38 from honeybee products enhances IgA production in healthy adults.

To identify lactic acid bacterial isolates, which promote immunoglobulin A (IgA) production in honeybee products and honeybees (Apis mellifera). Pyrosequencing analysis of the microbiota of honeybee products and honeybees revealed the predominance of Lactobacillus kunkeei in honey, bee pollen, bee bread and royal jelly. Lactobacillus kunkeei was isolated from bee pollen, bee bread and honey stomach, and its effect on IgA production was evaluated in vitro. Heat-killed YB38 and YB83 isolates from bee pollen promoted IgA production in mouse Peyer's Patch cells and had little mitogenic activity or effect on IL-2 production in mouse spleen cells in comparison with Listeria monocytogenes, which does exhibit mitogen activity. A pilot study in 11 healthy adults showed that 4-week intake of 1000 mg day(-1) heat-killed YB38 increased secretory IgA (SIgA) concentrations and secretion in saliva with no adverse effects. Heat-killed Lact. kunkeei YB38 from bee pollen increases IgA production and may safely improve immune responsiveness. This is the first report of microbiota analysis of royal jelly and the immune efficacy of Lact. kunkeei from honeybee products in humans.

Effect of dietary inulin supplements on growth performance and intestinal immunological parameters of broiler chickens

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of dietary inulin supplementation on growth performance and intestinal immune parameters of broilers. A total of 280 one-day-old Cobb 500 male broilers were randomly allocated into four groups of seven replicate pens and given a maize-soybean basal diet supplemented with 0, 5, 10 and 15g/kg of inulin during the 42 days of the experiment. Feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were determined from d 1 to 21 (starter), and from d 22 to 42 (grower). Intestinal T lymphocyte subpopulations, the production of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and cytokines as well as mucin mRNA expression were measured at 21d and 42d. Feed intake was increased quadratically (P=0.001) as the dietary inulin level increasing during starter period only. However BWG and FCR of broilers were not affected by inulin supplementation in either period. At d 21 and as the dietary inulin concentration increasing, proportion of T CD4+ T lymphocyte and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in ileum tissue tended (P=0.05–0.087) to be linearly increased, IgA concentration in cecal content and mucin mRNA expression in jejunum tissue were linearly increased (P=0.006–0.01), whereas concentrations of interleuk-6 and interferon-γ in ileum tissue quadratically (P<0.05) decreased. The effects of dietary inulin on these intestinal immunological parameters were minimal at the 42-d age of broilers. These results indicated that dietary inulin at the levels of 5–10g/kg may have the beneficial effects on enhancing intestinal immune function of broiler chicken at younger age when the intestinal function is not fully developed.

Salivary hormones and IgA in relation to physical performance in football

Salivary biomarkers have shown to be useful to assess physiological stress in football, but their relationship with physical performance is unknown. The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of a football match on salivary cortisol, testosterone and immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations in elite footballers, and to examine the relationship of physical performance during the match to these biomarkers. Nine elite football players were assessed before, during and after a friendly international match. Physical performance during the match was measured by time-motion analysis, whilst salivary cortisol, testosterone and IgA were measured before and 10 min post-match. The results showed that players covered an average of 9463 ± 458 m during the match. Salivary cortisol did not change post-match. Testosterone and IgA concentrations decreased by 30.6% and 74.5%, respectively. The testosterone/cortisol (T/C) ratio decreased by 64.2% after the match. Changes in testosterone concentrations correlated (r = 0.85) with distance covered. Pre- and post-match testosterone levels correlated with post-match IgA concentrations (r = 0.8 and 0.89, respectively). These results suggest that a football match induces catabolic stress as indicated by the decreased T/C ratio. It seems that footballers with smaller decreases in testosterone levels covered more distance and decreased their immune function less.

An Organic Field-effect Transistor with an Extended-gate Electrode Capable of Detecting Human Immunoglobulin A.

We herein report on the development of an extended-gate type organic field-effect transistor (OFET)-based immunosensor for the detection of human immunoglobulin A (IgA). The titration results of IgA exhibited shifts in the transfer characteristics of the OFET sensor device with increasing IgA concentration. A linear detection range from 0 to 10 μg/mL was realized with a detection limit of 2.1 μg/mL, indicating that the OFET-based immunosensor can be potentially applied to the monitoring of infectious diseases and psychological stress in daily life.

Effect of hydrogymnastics physical exercise on serum level of immunoglobulin A in elderly women

Decreases in function of the immune system with age contribute to the increase the risk of infectious diseases especially the upper respiratory tract. On the other hand, physical activity has been widely recommended for health. However, more studies are needed to support the benefit effect of exercise on immune system in elderly. To evaluate the effect of the hydrogymnastics on the serum level of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in elderly women. Twenty-six participants were randomly assigned to an experimental (n: 16) or a control group (n: 10). IgA concentrations were determined by nephelometry (BN2 Analyzer, Dade Behring). The hydrogymnastics training protocol was performed 5 times a week during 12 weeks. The intensity of the aerobic exercise was 50-60% of the maximum heart rate monitored by telemetry (Polar-FT7). No significant differences (p: 0.797) resulted by ANOVA on serum IgA levels; the percentage of change in experimental group was Δ% = -6.7 mg/dL compared to the control group, Δ%= -7.4 mg/dL. After three months of hydrogymnastics the IgA level did not show significant change on elderly women; However, positive improvement in percentage of change Δ% was found.

The higher frequency of IgA deficiency among Swedish twins is not explained by HLA haplotypes.

Serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations were determined in 12 600 adult Swedish twins, applying a high-throughput reverse-phase protein microarray technique. The prevalence of IgA deficiency (IgAD) was found to be 1:241 in monozygotic (MZ) twins and 1:198 in dizygotic (DZ) twins. Hence, the prevalence in twins is markedly elevated as compared with the normal Swedish adult population (1:600). The twins did not show a difference in the frequency of HLA haplotypes in comparison with almost 40 000 healthy Swedish controls. As expected, the risk-conveying HLA alleles A*01, B*08 and DRB1*01 were overrepresented among the IgAD twins and were also associated with significantly lower mean serum IgA concentrations in the twin cohort. In contrast, significantly higher mean IgA concentrations were found among individuals carrying the protective HLA alleles B*07 and DRB1*15. Exome sequencing data from two MZ twin pairs discordant for the deficiency showed no differences between the siblings. Model fitting analyses derived a heritability of 35% and indicate that genetic influences are modestly important for IgAD. The probandwise concordance rates for IgAD were found to be 31% for MZ and 13% for DZ twins.

Age-related changes of salivary IgA among healthy subjects

Introduction: The major immunoglobulin present in mucosal secretions (e.g. saliva) is secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA). The potential functions of this secretory IgA include prevention of microbial attachment to surfaces by agglutination, blockage of receptor-mediated attachment, and altering surface hydrophobicity. IgA in saliva is detected early in life as the mucosal immune system develops and the oral cavity is exposed to microbes that make up the normal ecology, as well as to potential pathogens. Lower concentration of IgA in saliva is associated with increased risk for periodontal disease and caries. The secretory IgA is the first line of defense against pathogens that invade the mucosal surfaces. The immune system exhibits profound changes with age and this fact has been well documented. Aims and Objectives: To investigate and re-confirm that salivary IgA concentration undergoes changes with advancing age, and further, to find if there is any probable difference in salivary IgA levels between men and women. Materials and Methods: Saliva samples were taken from 120 healthy subjects aged 1-60 years who were divided into the following age groups: 1-10 years, 11-20 years, 21-30 years, 31-40 years, 41-50 years, and 51-60 years. The salivary IgA concentrations were measured by use of single radial immune diffusion technique and analyzed using the paired and unpaired Student's t -test, and coefficient test as appropriate, and P values of less than 0.5 were considered significant. Results: The mean salivary IgA levels showed significant changes in each decade of the subjects selected. The mean salivary IgA levels were significantly higher in adults than those observed in children. Conclusion: These results showed that the salivary IgA levels exhibit age-related changes.

The induction of breast milk pertussis specific antibodies following gestational tetanus–diphtheria–acellular pertussis vaccination

BackgroundCenter for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccination of pregnant women with tetanus–diphtheria–acellular pertussis (Tdap). AimTo measure pertussis specific antibodies, total protein and their ratio in breast milk following gestational Tdap vaccination. MethodsWomen who received Tdap after the 20th week of pregnancy were recruited and unvaccinated women served as controls. Breast milk total protein, immunoglobulin A (IgA) to pertussis toxin (PT), filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) to PT, FHA and pertactin (PRN) were measured. To overcome the dilution that occurs in the transition from colostrum to mature breast milk, we calculated pertussis specific antibody to total protein ratio. ResultsPertussis specific IgA was the predominant pertussis immunoglobulin in the colostrum of Tdap vaccinated women with the geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) of IgA to FHA higher than for IgA to PT, 24.12ELISA units/milliliter (EU/mL) vs. 8.18EU/mL, respectively, p<0.004. There were differences between the vaccinated women and controls in the GMCs of IgA to FHA and IgG to PRN in the colostrum, 24.12EU/mL vs. 6.52EU/mL, p=0.01 and 2.46EU/mL vs. <0.6EU/mL, p=0.03, respectively. The GMCs of total protein showed significant decline over 8 weeks in the vaccinated women and controls, p<0.004. Among vaccinated women, there was significant decline in the GMCs of IgA to PT and FHA over 8 weeks, p<0.001. The geometric mean ratio of IgA to FHA to total protein also declined significantly over 8 weeks in the vaccinated women, p<0.01, demonstrating a true decrease, however, pertussis IgA was measurable at 8 weeks. ConclusionsSelect colostrum pertussis antibody levels were significantly higher among women vaccinated with Tdap during pregnancy compared with unvaccinated women. Among vaccinated women, maximal levels of pertussis specific IgA were in the colostrum but still detected at 8 weeks. Lactation may augment infant's protection against pertussis.

Salivary antimicrobial proteins associate with age-related changes in streptococcal composition in dental plaque.

Secretion of antimicrobial proteins (AMPs) and salivary antibodies can modify biofilm formation at host body surfaces. In adolescents, associations have been reported between dental caries and salivary AMPs. AMPs demonstrate direct antimicrobial effects at high concentrations, and at lower more physiological concentrations they mediate changes in host cell defenses, which may alter the local environment and indirectly shape local biofilm formation. The expression of salivary AMPs in preschool children, at an age when the oral bacteria are known to change, has not been investigated. We sought to investigate salivary AMP expression in the context of previously well-documented changes in the oral cavities of this age group including salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA), oral bacteria and dental caries. Dental plaque and saliva were collected from 57 children aged 12-24 months at baseline, of whom 23 children were followed-up at 3 years of age. At each time, saliva was assessed for LL37, human neutrophil peptides 1-3, calprotectin, lactoferrin, salivary IgA, total plaque bacteria and Streptococcus mutans. Over time, concentrations of AMPs, S. mutans and bacteria-specific salivary IgA increased. Caries experience was also recorded when children were 3 years old. Concentrations of AMPs were highest in the saliva of 3-year-old children with the greatest burden of S. mutans. These data suggest that salivary AMPs are variable over time and between individuals, and are linked with bacterial colonization. At follow up, the majority of children remained caries free. Larger longitudinal studies are required to confirm whether salivary AMP levels are predictive of caries and whether their modulation offers therapeutic benefit.

The dog as a genetic model for immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency: Identification of several breeds with low serum IgA concentrations

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) serves as the basis of the secretory immune system by protecting the lining of mucosal sites from pathogens. In both humans and dogs, IgA deficiency (IgAD) is associated with recurrent infections of mucosal sites and immune-mediated diseases. Low concentrations of serum IgA have previously been reported to occur in a number of dog breeds but no generally accepted cut-off value has been established for canine IgAD. The current study represents the largest screening to date of IgA in dogs in terms of both number of dogs (n=1267) and number of breeds studied (n=22). Serum IgA concentrations were quantified by using capture ELISA and were found to vary widely between breeds. We also found IgA to be positively correlated with age (p<0.0001). Apart from the two breeds previously reported as predisposed to low IgA (Shar-Pei and German shepherd), we identified six additional breeds in which ≥10% of all tested dogs had very low (<0.07g/l) IgA concentrations (Hovawart, Norwegian elkhound, Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever, Bullterrier, Golden retriever and Labrador retriever). In addition, we discovered low IgA concentrations to be significantly associated with canine atopic dermatitis (CAD, p<0.0001) and pancreatic acinar atrophy (PAA, p=0.04) in German shepherds.