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Bioactive Components of Human Milk pp 197–205Cite as

Homeostasis of the Mucosal Immune System

Human Milk and Lactation

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Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 501))

Abstract

External secretions, including milk, contain large amounts of immunoglobulins (Ig) and innate factors of humoral immunity. The Ig isotype distribution, their origin, transport, and absorbability from the gut lumen differ greatly among various species. Milk of primates contains mainly secretory IgA (sIgA) which has unique biological properties. The functional advantages of sIgA compared with other Ig isotypes include its resistance to proteolysis, presence of 4 to 8 antigen-binding sites, carbohydrate moiety-mediated antiadherence properties, and inhibition of complement activation. Although IgA exhibits its protective effect mainly on mucosal surfaces, internalization by cells expressing various IgA receptors suggests additional protective functions.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Microbiology and Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294

    Jiri Mestecky

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  1. Jiri Mestecky
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Waltham, Massachusetts and Harvard Medical School, Shriver Center, Boston, Massachusetts

    David S. Newburg

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© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Mestecky, J. (2001). Homeostasis of the Mucosal Immune System. In: Newburg, D.S. (eds) Bioactive Components of Human Milk. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 501. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1371-1_26

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1371-1_26

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5521-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-1371-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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