[Immunomorphological determination of secretory immunoglobulin A in the bronchial mucous membrane in chronic bronchitis].

The disappearance of the secretory immunoglobulin A in chronic bronchitis is shown to result from the disappearance of the epitheliocytes capable of secreting this substance. The secondary immunoglobulin A deficiency is followed by its accumulation in the basal epithelial cells. The absence of the secretory component probably prevents the immunoglobulin A diffusion to the epithelium surface this decreasing the local immunity against various antigens and the possibility of their elimination. It is suggested that the epithelial alterations described in patients with chronic bronchitis are among the causes for non-specific lung diseases to become chronic.