ANTIGEN-SPECIFIC IGA-SECRETING CELLS INDUCED BY PERIPHERAL VACCINATION

Antigen-specific IgA-secreting cells were shown to be generated in per ipheral lymph nodes following s.c. vaccination. The efferent duct of p refemoral lymph nodes of sheep were cannulated prior to vaccination at a site draining to the cannulated node. Vaccines were contained a rec ombinant protein (Taenia ovis 45W-GST) and either incomplete Freund's, Quil A or Al(OH)(3) as adjuvant. Lymph fluid was examined for the pre sence of 45W-GST-specific antibody by ELISA and antibody-secreting cel ls by enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay. Large numbers of anti- 45W-GST IgA-secreting cells were detected at various times after vacci nation as were IgM, IgG(1) and IgG(2)-secreting cells. For sheep vacci nated using incomplete Freund's adjuvant, up to 11% (> 1 million/day) of 45W-GST-specific ELISPOT were IgA-secreting cells.