Salivary, gut, vaginal and nasal antibody responses after oral immunization with biodegradable microparticles

• Published in: Vaccine 1997-02, Vol.15 (2), p.169-175
• Main Authors: Challacombe, S.J., Rahman, D., O'Hagan, D.T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Animals; Antibody Specificity; Antibody-Producing Cells - immunology; Antibody-Producing Cells - metabolism; Applied microbiology; Biocompatible Materials - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; immunity; Immunoglobulin A - biosynthesis; Immunoglobulin A - blood; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory - biosynthesis; Intestinal Mucosa - immunology; Intestinal Mucosa - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Microbiology; microparticles; Microspheres; mucosal; Nasal Mucosa - immunology; Nasal Mucosa - metabolism; Ovalbumin - administration & dosage; Ovalbumin - immunology; Salivary Glands - immunology; Salivary Glands - metabolism; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies (general aspects); Vagina - immunology; Vagina - metabolism
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/S0264-410X(96)00159-4

The aims of this study were to determine whether oral immunization with microparticles might lead to a common mucosal response including vaginal secretions. Femalev Balb/c mice were immunized orally with microparticles containing ovalbumin at 0 and 4 weeks or with soluble antigen. Antibody responses were assayed by ELISA in saliva, gut washings, vaginal washings and serum, and antibody producing cells were assayed by ELISPOT in salivary glands and nasal cavity. After primary immunization, IgA antibodies were detected in vaginal washings, saliva and in gut washings which were significantly greater than those detected with soluble antigen ( P