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Immunohistologic Studies of Human Lacrimal Gland: Localization of Immunoglobulins, Secretory Component and Lactoferrin¹

From the Wilmer Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, and the State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14215

Abstract

Studies of normal human lacrimal glands were performed by utilizing fluorescent antibody and ultrastructural techniques in order to examine immunoglobulin production and localization within the gland, and to investigate mechanisms of transport of these immunoglobulins from the gland.

Throughout the interstitium of each gland, clusters of cells having the morphologic characteristics of plasma cells were evident. Fluorescent antibody staining showed these cells to contain predominantly IgA, with IgG or IgM occasionally present, and IgE only rarely demonstrable. Extracellular IgA staining was seen along basement membranes of acini, between acinar epithelial cells, and occasionally within acinar lumina. IgA was also occasionally seen intracellularly throughout acinar epithelial cells. IgG was diffusely evident throughout the interstitium but appeared particularly concentrated along the acinar basement membranes. Secretory component and lactoferrin were localized to the acinar epithelial cells, and secretory component could also be found in acinar intercellular spaces.

The larger numbers of IgA-containing plasma cells relative to other immunoglobulin-specific plasma cells are consistent with the known proportions of immunoglobulins in tears, and suggest their local production within the lacrimal gland. A secretory mechanism involving intracellular transport of immunoglobulins by acinar epithelial cells is proposed.

Footnotes

¹ This work was supported in part by a grant-in-aid from Fight for Sight, Inc., by United States Public Health Service Research Grant AM-10419, and by an unrestricted gift from the Alcon Laboratories, Inc. This work was presented at the spring meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Sarasota, Florida, April 26, 1972.

² Present address: National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. Reprint requests to Dr. Franklin, the Wilmer Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.

³ Present address: National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. Reprint requests to Dr. Franklin, the Wilmer Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.

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