[Humoral aspects of mucous membrane immunity--perspectives for the female genital tract].

Mucosal immunity of the female genital tract is a part of the "Common mucosal immunity". It is possible to induce local antibodies in the female genital tract by means of oral immunization. From these investigations new perspectives in terms of immunoprophylaxis against bacterial, viral an parasitic infections come into consideration for clinical use. In the case of bacterial infections IgA blocks the attachment of pathogens to relevant mucosal tissues and cells. Predominant among the immune mechanisms is the occurrence of secretory antibodies in the fluids that bath mucosal membranes. Secretory IgA (S-IgA) is an 11S molecule (MW 390,000) consisting of two IgA monomers covalently bonded by joining chain (J chain) and complexed to one molecule of SC.S-IgA ist the main immunoglobulin of mucosal surface. A medically important group of bacterial pathogens produce IgA1 protease cleaving only IgA1 proteins. S-IgA is resistant to protease hydrolysis. The secretory component (SC) is an epithelial cell receptor for the transport of IgA dimers, polymers and IgM polymers. Systemic suppression after oral antigen application has been demonstrated with a variety of thymic-dependent antigens, including heterologous erythrocytes, haptens, and various soluble proteins. Tolerance is mediated by antigen specific T suppressor cells (Ts). Suppressor cells first appear in the gut associated lymphoid tissue and subsequently migrate to systemic sites. At present immunoglobulin estimations in secretions are of clinical importance regarding supporting diagnostic tool of mucosal infections.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)