薬理と治療

Abstract

Secretory IgA（sIgA）plays an important role in the protection of respiratory, intestinal, and urogenital mucosal epithelia from adhesion of pathogenic microorganisms and harmful antigenic molecules to and invasion into host cells. It is noted that sIgA in saliva functions as a primary defense for preventing development of upper respiratory tract infections（URTIs）and allergic diseases. The magnitude of the beneficial sIgA functions may depend on the amount of sIgA secreted into saliva as represented by salivary sIgA concentration or salivary IgA secretion rate. A large battery of human and animal studies have demonstrated that some daily life-related events, such as excessive physical exercise︱induced stresses and mental stresses, can lower salivary IgA levels, leading to increase sensitivities to infection and allergy. To evade these unfavorable outcomes, a substantial number of nutritional, nutraceutical and biophysical treatments have been investigated as potential candidates for enhancing salivary sIgA secretion, of which some appear promising. This approach will be expected to open up a new way for the prevention and management of URTIs and allergic diseases.