Elevated cerebrospinal fluid IgA in humans and rats is not associated with secretory component.

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is transported across mucosal tissue membranes covalently bound to secretory component (SC). To determine if this receptor-mediated process also occurs at central nervous system (CNS) boundaries, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum from patients with CNS neuroinflammatory disease were analyzed for IgA and SC. Excess CSF IgA was detected in six of 24 patients, but no significant CSF SC was detected. In a parallel study using a rat model with normal brain barriers, inactivated lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus was microinfused into CSF. Elevated CSF IgA was detected in four of six rats, yet the proportion of secretory IgA was again insignificant compared to normal exocrine fluids (bile, semen). There does not appear to be a secretory IgA immune system at CNS boundaries and elevated CSF IgA is attributed to intrathecal synthesis.