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- Title
Immunohistochemical Evaluation of J-Chain Expression by Intra- and Extra-follicular Immunoglobulin-producing Human Tonsillar Cells.
- Authors
Korsrud, F. R.; Brandtzaeg, P.
- Abstract
Cytoplasmic J-chain expression by Ig-producing cells was characterized immunohistochemically in normal specimens of palatine and nasopharyngeal tonsils (adenoids). Altogether follicular immunocytes, which were mainly of the IgG and IgM isotypes, showed a much higher percentage of J-chain positivity than the extrafollicular ones, in agreement with the idea that this polypeptide is principally a marker of differentiating or newly differentiated Ig-producing cells. Thus, in concurrence with the predominating IgG isotype, J-chain expression was almost 50% in the germinal centres of lymphoid follicles but only about 2% in the extrafollicular compartment. By contrast, a substantial number of J-chain-positive IgA immunocytes were found in the latter compartment. Since it is believed that extrafollicular Ig-producing cells are mainly derived from follicular centre cells, this result indicated that significant isotype switching is involved in tonsillar B-cell differentiation. Most tonsillar IgD immunocytes were J-chain-positive, in accordance with the notion that IgD expression is a feature of relatively early clonal development. It is postulated that J-chain-positive B-cell blasts may leave the tonsils and, through isotype switching, contribute to the dimer-producing IgA-cell populations normally found in the exocrine glands of the upper aero-digestive tract.
- Subjects
IMMUNOGLOBULINS; CELLS; PALATINES; ADENOIDS; IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY; IMMUNOLOGY
- Publication
Scandinavian Journal of Immunology, 1981, Vol 13, Issue 3, p271
- ISSN
0300-9475
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1365-3083.1981.tb00135.x