Repopulation of the gut lamina propria with IgA-containing cells by lymphoid cells isolated from the gut lamina propria.

Migration and lodging properties of IgA cells and their precursors of the gut lamina propria (GLP) were studied by transfer of highly purified GLP lymphoid cells between immunoglobulin allotype-congenic mice (CB-20 to BALB/c). The donor IgA-containing ( cIgA ) cells appeared in the GLP of the recipients at day 1, peaked at days 12-15 (late repopulation peak) and persisted up to day 20 after cell transfer. An additional peak at day 3 (early repopulation peak) was seen only when large numbers of GLP B cells were transferred. Few cIgA cells appearing in spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes were seen mainly at days 12-15. The early repopulation peak was probably formed by the differentiation and accumulation of IgA blasts, recirculating IgA-bearing cells and some IgA precursors. The former 2 cell types homed directly back, while the later homed indirectly via spleen to the GLP. The late repopulation peak was possibly formed by the homing and differentiation of Peyer's patch IgA precursors arriving in the GLP with membrane immunoglobulins unchanged. These GLP IgA precursors migrated first to the spleen and later back to the GLP, where they differentiated into IgA plasma cells.