IgA - subclasses

Immunoglobulin A - one of the immuglobulins of the immune system organism occurring in serum - monomeric and secretory - dimeric. Secretory IgA is found in mucosal-serum secretions such as milk and colostrum, saliva, tears, nasopharyngeal, bronchial, intestinal and genitourinary tract secretions urogenital tract. IgA is responsible for bacterial agglutination, inhibiting bacterial adhesion to the epithelium of mucous membranes and also neutralization of bacterial toxins. IgA, due to its structure and occurrence in the body is divided into two subclasses IgA1 and IgA2 with different biological activity and distribution in the body. IgA1 predominates in serum IgA, while the IgA2 subclass is found mainly on the the surface of mucous membranes. IgA deficiency is the most common cause of immune deficiency immunodeficiency. Clinical manifestations include recurrent infections of the of the upper respiratory tract. IgA deficiency can be accompanied by diseases of an autoimmune nature as well as other disorders of immunity humoral immunity (decreased production of IgG, increased production of IgE).