Mucosal antibodies can be measured in air-dried samples of saliva and feces

• Published in: Journal of immunological methods 1998-06, Vol.215 (1), p.163-172
• Main Authors: Vetvik, Helene, Grewal, Harleen M.S, Haugen, Inger Lise, Åhrén, Christina, Haneberg, Bjørn
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air-drying; Biological and medical sciences; Feces; Feces - chemistry; Freezing; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humans; IgA; IgG; Immunoglobulin A - analysis; Immunoglobulin G - analysis; Intestinal Mucosa - immunology; Intestinal Mucosa - metabolism; Molecular immunology; Nasal Mucosa - immunology; Nasal Mucosa - metabolism; Saliva; Saliva - chemistry; Specimen Handling - methods; Techniques
• ISSN: 0022-1759; 1872-7905
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-1759(98)00089-1

IgA antibodies reflecting airways or intestinal mucosal immune responses can be found in saliva and feces, respectively, and IgG antibodies reflecting serum antibodies can be found in saliva. In this study, antibodies were detected in samples of saliva and feces which had been air-dried at room temperature (+20°C) or +37°C, and stored at these temperatures for up to 6 months. In saliva the antibody levels increased, while the antibodies in feces decreased upon storage. The individual IgA antibody concentrations which were adjusted by using the ratios of specific IgA/total IgA were relatively stable in both saliva and feces, and correlated with corresponding antibody levels in samples which had been stored at −20°C. The results indicate that air-dried saliva and feces can be used for semiquantitative measurements of mucosal antibodies, even after prolonged storage at high temperatures and lack of refrigeration.