Secretory component

Isotype

Monoclonal antibody

Biology

Microbiology

Immunoglobulin E

Antibody

Immunology

Immunity

Secretory IgA

Immunoglobulin A

Mucosal immunity

Immunoglobulin G

Immune system

J chain

BioMed Research International

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the most abundant antibody isotype in the mucosal immune system. Structurally, IgA in the mucosal surface is a polymeric structure, while serum IgA is monomeric. Secretory IgA (sIgA) is one of the polymeric IgAs composed of dimeric IgA, J chain, and secretory component (SC). Most of sIgAs were generated by gut and have effects in situ. Besides the function of "immune exclusion," a nonspecific immune role, recent studies found it also played an important role in the specific immunity and immunoregulation. Thanks to the critical role of sIgA during the mucosal immune system homeostasis between commensal microorganisms and pathogens; it has been an important field exploring the relationship between sIgA and commensal microorganisms.

The Effects of Secretory IgA in the Mucosal Immune System