Sublingual glands show the highest frequency of IgA positive cells among murine major salivary glands.

Immunoglobulin A (IgA)-producing cells in the three major murine salivary glands (SGs) were analyzed using flow cytometry. Sublingual glands (SLGs) had significantly higher frequencies of IgA+ cells than other SGs. IgA+ cells expressed CC chemokine receptor 10 (CCR10). The messenger RNA expression level of CC chemokine ligand 28 (CCL28), a CCR10 ligand, was also significantly higher in SLGs. The IgA level in SLGs was highest among major SGs. However, surgical resection of SLGs did not affect the IgA level in the saliva. These data clearly show that the distribution of IgA-producing cells is significantly different between major SGs.