Studies on immunoglobulins in pancreatic juice from patients with pancreatitis

Abstract

To determine concentrations of immunoglobulins (Ig) in pancreatic juice, pure pancreatic juice was obtained from patients with acute and chronic pancreatits who underwent endoscopic retrograde intrapancreatic duct canulation. IgG, IgA and IgM were determined by conventional radioimmunoassay, or enzyme immunoassay which was recently developed by us using PINS plates. The values determined by both methods were significantly correlated each other. A main Ig in pancreatic juice from patients with chronic pnacreatitis was demonstrated to be of IgA approximately half of the IgA showed a polymeric form, suggesting strongly the local production. On the other hand, IgG was a predominant Ig in pancreatic juice from patients with acute pancreatitis. As to the IgA molecule composition, the monomeric form was more than the polymeric form. These results suggest that a considerable amount of Ig in the pancreatic juice may be derived from sera of acute pancreatitis patients.