Fantastic IgA plasma cells and where to find them.

Baweleta Isho, Alexandra Florescu, Angela A Wang, Jennifer L Gommerman

Immunological reviews 2021 Sep

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IgA is produced in large quantities at mucosal surfaces by IgA+ plasma cells (PC), protecting the host from pathogens, and restricting commensal access to the subepithelium. It is becoming increasingly appreciated that IgA+ PC are not constrained to mucosal barrier sites. Rather, IgA+ PC may leave these sites where they provide both host defense and immunoregulatory function. In this review, we will outline how IgA+ PC are generated within the mucosae and how they subsequently migrate to their "classical" effector site, the gut lamina propria. From there we provide examples of IgA+ PC displacement from the gut to other parts of the body, referencing examples during homeostasis and inflammation. Lastly, we will speculate on mechanisms of IgA+ PC displacement to other tissues. Our aim is to provide a new perspective on how IgA+ PC are truly fantastic beasts of the immune system and identify new places to find them. © 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Citation

Baweleta Isho, Alexandra Florescu, Angela A Wang, Jennifer L Gommerman. Fantastic IgA plasma cells and where to find them. Immunological reviews. 2021 Sep;303(1):119-137