IgA directly inhibits antigen-dependent B cell activation following distinctive distribution of the antigen in mice

Context: Serum IgA suppresses immune responses when exposed to antigens recognized by the antibody; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Objective: We herein clarified the relationships between changes in antigen distribution and antigen-dependent B cell activation in the presence or absence of IgA against the antigen in mice.

Materials and methods: DBA/1J and HR-1 mice were intravenously injected with ovalbumin (OVA) and anti-OVA monoclonal IgA OA-4. The distribution of the antigen and B cell responses were measured.

Results: B cell activation by injected OVA, namely, increases in anti-OVA IgG production and the populations of B220⁺GL7⁺ and B220⁺CD69^high splenocytes, was diminished by the co-injection of OA-4. Co-injected OA-4 increased OVA in the serum as well as in the bile and gut. This was coincident with its decrease in the urine due to the inhibition of OVA monomer secretion through the formation of immune complexes. The apparent similarities in the association between fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-OVA and splenic B cells in the presence and absence of OA-4 in vivo appeared to be attributed to compensation between the two effects of OA-4; an increase in serum OVA in vivo and inhibition of the association between OVA and B cells, as suggested by in vitro experiments.

Discussion: Based on these results, the stimulation of B cells by OVA may be directly reduced, at least partly, by the neutralization of OVA by OA-4.

Conclusion: IgA may be an effective drug for the treatment of immune disorders due to its ability to blunt antigen-specific B cell activation.