Intestinal immune response to E. coli antigens in the germ-free chicken.

The secretory intestinal immune response to live and heat-inactivated E. coli 02 has been studied in young germ-free chicks. A response to live organisms was evident from an infiltration of the intestinal mucosa with IgA and IgM immunoglobulin-producing cells (IPC). Antibody associated with both immunoglobulin classes which was specific for E. coli 02 was demonstrated in saline extracts of contents from the small intestine. Repeated oral immunization with heat-killed E. coli 02 failed to stimulate serum or intestinal antibody. This finding reflected the complete absence of IPC within the intestinal mucosa of these birds. The IPC profile of unimmunized germ-free chicks was identical to that seen in chicks orally immunized with inactivated E. coli. An interesting feature of all gnotobiotic birds was a considerable elevation of serum IgM levels, compared to those of conventional birds, which was unassociated with immunization procedures. Serum IgG and IgA levels in gnotobiotes were much lower than those in the serum of conventional birds of comparable age. Studies on the fate of orally administered antigen using radiolabelled E. coli endotoxin indicated that a proportion remained intact as far down the intestinal tract as the caecum. However, unaccountably high levels of low mol. wt antigen in the faeces suggested degradation, intestinal absorption and subsequent excretion of endotoxin fragments in the urine. The differences between the avian response and that observed in mammals are discussed in relation to the comparative roles of Peyer's patches and the bursa of Fabricius in initiating intestinal immununity.