The influence of local infection on immunoglobulin formation in the human endocervix

Abstract

The formation of immunoglobulins in the lamina propria of the endocervix was studied in relation to specific acute local infection. Plasma cells containing IgA, IgG and IgM were identified immunohistochemically by the direct fluorescent antibody method in specimens obtained by needle biopsy. Infection by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis or Candida albicans was associated with an increse in the numbers of fluorescing plasma cells in all three classes, but predominantly IgA; plasma cells of the IgM class were more prominent in trichomoniasis than in the other two infections. Sexual contacts of patients with gonorrhoea, in whom the organism could not be demonstrated, showed an identical response to bacteriologically confirmed cases, but contacts of patients with non-specific urethritis were indistinguishable from normals.