Immunoglobulin Function on the Epithelial Surfaces

Dear Colleagues,

Mucosal tissues have delicate immune mechanisms to maintain the normal function of the mucosa-associated organ systems. The cellular and humoral elements of the immune system help to keep a fine balance between the host and the commensal microbiota, which could represent a threat but also provide materials with vital importance for the proper physiological function of the body. Microbiological studies have suggested diverse roles for normal microbiota: Defense against pathogenic microbe variants, contribution in the normal physiological state of various organs versus appearance of destructive autoinflammatory diseases, and even the life span of the individual are among the various topics that have been associated with the presence of the diverse microbiota. The classical secreted immunoglobulins—IgA and IgM—could play a vital role in the composition of the microbiota at the mucosal surfaces. IgG can also appear on the surface of diverse mucosal compartments. Several questions and uncertainties should be examined in connection with these antibodies, and various topics needs scientific evidence-based clarification and more detailed examinations. What do we know about the detailed specificity of these immunoglobulin isotypes? What type of protection could the secretory fragment of the poly Ig receptor provide against the degradation of the secretory antibodies, or does it have any new function that should be known? What is the role of the breast milk antibodies in the microbial colonization of neonatal intestines? How do the secreted antibodies take part in the microbial “shelter function” of the appendix vermiformis? What is the distribution and the composition of the different immunoglobulin isotypes in the different mucosal compartments of the body? Do the “secreted” IgG molecules have fundamentally different roles from the IgA and IgM molecules? Are autoinflammatory diseases of the mucosa associated with the disturbances of the composition of secreted immunoglobulins? The Special Issue will welcome new findings in connection with these topics. In vivo, in vitro, and even in silico studies are welcomed.

Dr. Gogolák Péte
Guest Editor

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• mucosal immunity
• secreted IgA, IgM, IgG
• antigen specificity
• immunoglobulin transport
• secretory fragment
• breast milk, saliva, tear
• antibody isotype distribution
• appendix (vermiformis)
• microbial colonization