Combined Oral and Intravenous Immunization Stimulates Strong IgA Responses in Both Systemic and Mucosal Compartments

PLoS One. 2016 Dec 9;11(12):e0168037. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168037. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

To investigate the influence of immunization routes onIgG, IgA and IgM production in systemic and mucosal compartments, we immunized mice with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) via oral, intranasal (i.n.) or subcutaneous (s.c.) routes alone or combined with the intravenous (i.v.) route. We found that administering antigen intravenously could affect antibody production and formation of antibody secreting cells (ASCs) depending on the immunization route previously used. Combined oral/i.v. immunization but not s.c./i.v. immunization caused a great increase of IgA ASCs in the spleen and enhanced IgA production in the small intestine and serum. Combined i.n./i.v. immunization could also increase IgA ASCs in the spleen and enhance IgA production in serum but had no effect on IgA production in the small intestine. Oral/i.v. immunization caused increase of IgG ASCs in both the spleen and bone marrow. In comparison, combined i.n./i.v. and s.c./i.v. immunization could increase IgG ASCs in the spleen but not in bone marrow. Intravenous administration of KLH in mice that had been immunized via oral, i.n. or s.c. routes caused some increase of IgM ASCs in the spleen but not in bone marrow. In conclusion, combined oral and i.v. administration of an antigen can induce fast and strong immune responses, especially for IgA, in both systemic and mucosal compartments.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Intravenous
  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Immunity, Mucosal*
  • Immunoglobulin A / immunology*
  • Mice

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin A

Grants and funding

This work was partially supported by a grant for Young Lecturers from Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. QZ received this funding. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. No other specific fundings for our work, the additional cost of our work supported by the funding from our laboratory.