Summary
We have analysed the binding of human IgM to fetal, normal adult and malignant colo-rectal tissues. Using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique on sections of frozen tissues human IgM binds to all normal adult colo-rectal epithelia (n=15) tested. By contrast, 9 out of 25 colo-rectal adenocarcinomas were negative, and in the remaining 16 the staining reaction varied from staining of all the cancer areas to focal staining of a few areas. Human IgM did not bind to 14 samples of fetal intestinal epithelium (gestational age of 6–14 weeks). The binding of IgM was found to be mediated by secretory component (SC) as anti-SC antibody (anti-SC) showed a similar staining pattern as IgM and the IgM binding could be blocked by anti-SC. SC was also demonstrated in glandular epithelia of sections of all normal breast epithelia but only in 10 out of 15 breast adenocarcinomas. The loss of IgM binding and SC could not be correlated to the morphology of the adenocarcinomas. The observations on fetal, normal adult and malignant tissue suggest that IgM binding and SC may be gradually lost during dedifferentiation of normal cells, to malignant colo-rectal or breast epithelia.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brandtzaeg P, Fjellanger I, Gjeruldsen ST (1970) Human secretory immunoglobulins. I. Salivary secretions from individuals with normal or low levels of serum immunoglobulins. Scand J Haematol [Suppl] 12:1–83
Brandtzaeg P (1974) Characteristics of SC-Ig complexes formed in vitro. Adv Exp Med Biol 45:87–91
Brandtzaeg P (1975) Human secretory immunoglobulin M. An immunochemical and immunohistochemical study. Immunology 29:559–570
Brandtzaeg P (1978) Polymeric IgA is complexed with secretory component (SC) on the surface of human intestinal epithelial cells. Scand J Immunol 8:39–52
Chu TM (1982) Biochemical markers for cancer. Marcel Dekker, New York
Crandall BF (1981) Alpha-fetoprotein: a review. CRC Crit Rec Clin Lab Sci 15:127–185
Eskeland T, Brandtzaeg P (1974) Does J chain mediate the combination of 19S IgM and dimeric IgA with the secretory component rather than being necessary for their polymerization? Immunochemistry 11:161–166
Ewing HP, Newson BD, Hardy JD (1982) Tumor markers. Curr Probl Surg 19:53–94
Harris JP, Caleb MH, South MA (1975) Secretory component in human breast carcinoma. Cancer Res 35:1861–1864
Harris JP, South MA (1981) Secretory component. A glandular epithelial cell marker. Am J Pathol 105:47–53
Isaacson P (1982) Immunoperoxidase study of the secretory immunoglobulin system in colonic neoplasma. J Clin Pathol 34:14–25
Nielsen B, Borup-Christensen P, Erb K, Jensenius JC, Husby S (1987) A method for the blocking of endogenous immunoglobulin on frozen tissue sections in the screening of human hybridoma antibody culture supernatants. Hybridoma 6:103–106
Ogra SS, Ogra L, Lippes J, Tomasi TB (1972) Immunohistologic localization of immunoglobulins, secretory component, and lactoferrin in the developing human fetus. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 139:570–574
Poger ME, Hirsch B, Lamm ME (1976) Synthesis of secretory component by colonic neoplasm. Am J Pathol 82:227–234
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ditzel, H., Erb, K., Teisner, B. et al. Immunohistochemical analysis of the binding of human IgM to secretory component present in normal adult colon epithelia, but not in colon cancer and fetal colon epithelia. Histochemistry 94, 95–99 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00266795
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00266795