MUCOSAL ANTIBODIES CAN BE MEASURED IN AIR-DRIED SAMPLES OF SALIVA ANDFECES

IgA antibodies reflecting airways or intestinal mucosal immune respons es can be found in saliva and feces, respectively, and IgG antibodies reflecting serum antibodies tan be found in saliva. In this study, ant ibodies were detected in samples of saliva and feces which had been ai r-dried at room temperature (+ 20 degrees C) or + 37 degrees C, and st ored at these temperatures for up to 6 months. In saliva the antibody levels increased, while the antibodies in feces decreased upon storage . The individual IgA antibody concentrations which were adjusted by us ing the ratios of specific IgA/total IgA were relatively stable in bot h saliva and feces, and correlated with corresponding antibody levels in samples which had been stored at - 20 degrees C. The results indica te that air-dried saliva and feces can be used for semiquantitative me asurements of mucosal antibodies, even after prolonged storage at high temperatures and lack of refrigeration. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.