Journal of Dental Research, Vol 60, 1639-1647, Copyright © 1981 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Immunoglobulin class of agglutinins to oral microorganisms in post-irradiation cancer patients
P. A. O'Neill, L. R. Brown, S. Dreizen, L. J. Riggan, S. F. Handler and D. H. Perkins
Fractionation of serum samples from head and neck cancer patients and their
assay for agglutination activity toward oral microorganisms showed that the
activity was derived from IgG, 7S IgA, 10S (dimeric) IgA, and IgM, with
considerable activity in the 10S IgA region. These findings probably
account for the lack of a significant relationship among levels of
individual serum immunoglobulins, agglutination titers, and caries activity
presented in an earlier study. Conversely, most of the agglutinating
activity in fractionated saliva was attributed to 11S IgA, presumably
secretory IgA, with some activity from a 19S substance and, in the
caries-active patients, from a higher molecular weight factor. These data
correspond to positive correlations between saliva IgA levels,
agglutination titers, and absence of caries in these patients.
