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PubMed1997

Immune response to Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia and other anaerobes in children with acute tonsillitis.

The number of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria was determined in the saliva of 20 children with acute group A beta-haemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) pharyngo-tonsillitis, and 20 with acute non-GABHS tonsillitis. Antibody titres to four Gram-negative anaerobic bacilli that reside in the oropharynx (Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans) were determined in these and 20 control patients. An average of 8.8 aerobic and anaerobic isolates per patient saliva specimens were found during the acute tonsillitis stage in both groups, and 6.9 (in GABHS tonsillitis) and 5.6 (in non-GABHS tonsillitis) 5-6 weeks later. There were 10- to 1000-fold more bacteria in the acute stages of the inflammation in both GABHS and non-GABHS groups. These bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Peptostreptococcus spp., F. nucleatum, Prevotella spp. and Porphyromonas spp. Significantly higher antibodies levels to F. nucleatum and P. intermedia were found in the second serum sample of patients with non-GABHS pharyngo-tonsillitis (P < 0.001) and GABHS tonsillitis (P < 0.05), as compared with their first sample or the levels of antibodies in controls. The increase in the number of several aerobic and anaerobic bacteria during acute tonsillitis and the increase in antibody levels to F. nucleatum and P. intermedia, known oral pathogens, may suggest a possible pathogenic role for these organisms in acute non-GABHS and GABHS tonsillitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Molecular pathologic analysis of the tonsil in HTLV-I-infected individuals.

Little is known about the role of the tonsils in HTLV-I infection. We performed molecular pathologic studies of tonsils in individuals positive or negative for anti-HTLV-I antibodies (HTLV-I-Ab) to clarify histologic characteristics of tonsils in HTLV-I infection. We collected tonsils and peripheral blood samples from patients who underwent tonsillectomy in a prospective manner. HTLV-I-Ab in serum was examined and presence of HTLV-I provirus was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in extracted DNA of both peripheral blood and tonsils. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical evaluations of tonsils were performed. HTLV-I seropositivity and PCR detection of HTLV-I provirus matched perfectly. Tonsil samples from seropositive individuals showed atrophy of the mantle zone and high numbers of T cells in the marginal zone compared with findings in HTLV-I-negative samples. HTLV-I provirus could be detected only from extracted DNA of extrafollicular areas. PCR in situ hybridization also showed positive signals in some mononuclear cells located in the marginal zone. There was a significant correlation between HTLV-I proviral load in tonsils and in peripheral blood. These results suggest the presence of characteristic histologic changes and deviated localization of HTLV-I-infected cells in the tonsils of individuals positive for HTLV-I.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Localisation of ecto-5'-nucleotidase and divalent cation-activated ecto-ATPase in chronic tonsillitis.

The histochemical localisation of two ecto-enzymes, 5'-nucleotidase (5'-NT) and Mg(2+)-ATPase, was investigated in hyperplastic and recurrent tonsillitis. Detection of enzymes was performed on frozen sections using the classical lead nitrate method. Activity of 5'-NT was demonstrated particularly in the cells of lymphoid follicles and in the basal layer of the surface tonsillar epithelium. There was no difference in localisation of 5'-NT between hyperplastic and recurrent tonsillitis, whereas a stronger reaction in follicular mantle zones was observed in recurrent tonsillitis compared to hyperplastic tonsillitis. Mg(2+)-ATPase activity was mainly associated with the cells lining the tonsillar crypt, with the interfollicular areas and blood vessels. In recurrent tonsillitis only half of the studied follicular germinal centres expressed Mg(2+)-ATPase activity, compared to hyperplastic tonsillitis. The similar localisation of 5'-NT and ecto-ATPase in both types of chronic tonsillitis suggests that in inflamed tonsils expression of investigated enzymes probably does not depend on the type of chronic tonsillitis.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1986

Comparison of the microbiology of recurrent tonsillitis between children and adults.

The microbial flora of recurrently inflamed tonsils removed from 25 children with recurrent episodes of tonsillar pharyngitis were compared to flora of tonsils removed from 23 adults suffering from similar illness. More bacterial isolates per tonsil were recovered in adults (10.2 per tonsil) than in children (8.4 per tonsil). The difference between these groups was due to a higher recovery rate in adults of Bacteroides melaninogenicus group (1.6 isolates per adult, 0.8 per child) and Bacteroides fragilis group (0.4 per adult, 0.2 per child). Conversely, Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci were isolated in seven (28%) children as compared to their isolation in one (4%) adult. More isolates of beta-lactamase-producing organisms (BLPO) per tonsil were recovered in adults. Forty-three BLPO were detected in 21 (91%) of the 23 tonsils removed from adults (1.9 isolates per patient) as compared to 31 isolates in 16 (64%) of the 25 tonsils removed from children (1.2 isolates per patient) (P = 0.04). These findings suggest that the etiology of recurrent tonsillitis in adults may differ from that in children. The differences in the tonsillar flora may be due to the effect of many more courses of antimicrobials given over the years to adults and the changes in tonsillar tissue that occur in this age group.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical and laboratory findings in patients with acute tonsillitis.

In 82 patients with acute tonsillitis studied, beta-hemolytic group A streptococci were isolated from 30 (37%), and group C or G streptococci from 12 (15%). In the 40 patients with non-streptococcal tonsillitis there was a significantly higher isolation rate of pneumococci, H. influenzae and/or B. catarrhalis, as compared with those with beta-hemolytic streptococci. Patients were classified regarding clinical status according to standardized criteria as severe, moderate, or mild. The patients with group A streptococcal tonsillitis were significantly more often classified clinically as 'severe' and had significantly shorter duration of symptoms before seeking medical care, as compared with those with non-streptococcal tonsillitis. Significant increases in white blood cell count and in anti-DNase B were found in the patients with group A streptococcal tonsillitis, whereas their antistreptolysin O levels did not increase significantly. C-reactive protein concentrations were consistently higher in the patients with group A streptococcal tonsillitis. No evidence of polyclonal beta-lymphocyte stimulation was found when measuring antibodies against pneumococci and group B streptococci. The findings show clinical and simple laboratory tests to be useful aids in distinguishing group A streptococcal tonsillitis from non-streptococcal tonsillitis, and that other bacteria may be involved in non-streptococcal tonsillitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1990

[Immunohistological study on human palatine tonsils in cases with pustulosis palmaris et plantaris--the quantitative study by image analyzer].

The purpose of this study was to clarify the mechanism of tonsillar focal infections such as pustulosis palmaris et plantaris (PPP), especially the role of tonsil on it. In 88 cases of various tonsillar diseases, i.e., PPP, chronic tonsillitis, and sleep apnea syndrome, distribution of immunocompetent cells, i.e., B cells having various immunoglobulin isotypes (IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, IgE, IgA1, and IgA2) on their surfaces and T cell subsets, helper/inducer (CD4+) T cell and suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8+) T cell were investigated immunohistologically using monoclonal antibodies and ABC method. The proportion of the immunocompetent cells in four anatomical sites in tonsil (germinal center, mantle zone, interfollicular area, and subepithelial area) were quantitatively studied by the image analyzer (CUE-2, Olympus, USA) and compared among various age groups and among three groups of tonsillar diseases. The difference of immunocompetent cells in tonsils between the effective group (showing marked improvement of skin lesions of PPP after tonsillectomy) and the not-effective group (showing no improvement of skin lesions after tonsillectomy) was also investigated. The results were summarized as follows. 1) Every type of Ig-positive cells in tonsils was decreased in proportion to age, especially the changes of IgG-, IgM-, and IgD-positive cells were inversely proportional to age with statistical significance. On the other hand, changes to T cell subsets with age were smaller in comparison with those of Ig-positive cells, especially the proportion of CD4-positive cells showed almost no changes in accordance with age. 2) Eighty percent of cases with PPP were classified into the effective group, whereas only 20% of them into the not-effective group. 3) IgG-, IgM-, and IgD-positive cells in tonsils of PPP were found to be significantly increased in the effective group compared to the not-effective group. In addition, in the effective group, CD4-positive cells were significantly increased in the interfollicular area and the subepithelial area of the tonsil. These results indicate that the image analysis will be a breakthrough in quantitative study on the immunohistology of the tonsil and give us useful informations in terms of the mechanism of tonsillar focal infections, i.e., immunological abnormalities in tonsils may play one of the important roles in the pathogenesis of PPP.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Immunological function of tonsils in atopic and nonatopic children, with special reference to E- and EAC-binding lymphocytes.

This investigation was carried out to determine the immunological function of the human tonsils, especially the role of lymphocytes of the atopic and nonatopic children. Authors introduced E- and EAC-rosettes forming technique with semi-quantitative evaluation of T and B lymphocytes in peripheral blood of 56 normal subjects, 28 atopic and 5 nonaptoic children of both sexes and different age. The percentage of T and B lymphocytes in removed palatine tonsils in 28 atopic and 5 nonatopic children was calculated. The percentage of rosettes forming cells in E and EAC suspensions appeared to be independent of age and sex. The percentage of T lymphocytes in peripheral blood is significantly higher than in the palatine tonsils whereas the percentage of B lymphocytes is significantly higher in the tonsils of atopic and nonatopic children than in the peripheral blood. The mean percentage of B lymphocytes in the tonsils of atopic children is significantly higher than in nonatopic children. The percentage of B lymphocytes was found to be significantly higher in hypertrophic than in small tonsils. Also, in the tonsils with adhesions there was a statistically significant higher percentage of EAC rosettes than in the tonsils free of adhesions. The percentage of T lymphocytes is statistically significant higher in the small tonsils.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Effect of the palatine tonsils size on acute illness of the respiratory tract in children, youth and young adults].

The palatine tonsils are cluster of lymphatic tissue located at the border of the respiratory system and the digestive system. Hypertrophy of palatine tonsils is the consequence of the stimulation of the children's immunological system by antigens of the breathing air and food intake. The aim of this study is the estimation of the size of the palatine tonsils depends on the age and the estimation of the correlation between size of the palatine tonsils and the frequency of otitis media and sinusitis in children, youth and young adults. 326 children divided into three groups: group I aged 3-6, group II aged 7-14, group III aged 15-22. We examined the oral cavity, the throat, the nose and the ears. The size of palatine tonsils was qualified according to Pirquet's classification. The questionnaire was included. The fifth degree of the size of the palatine tonsils observed more often in youngest group then in the other. Otitis media occurs in 80% children with fifth degree of the size of the palatine tonsils and in 50% children with I, II, III degree. The sinusitis was the most frequent in group of children with I and II degree of the palatine tonsils. In group of children with fifth degree sinusitis didn't occur. The size of the palatine tonsils can influence occurring and frequency of otitis media but it doesn't influence occurring and frequency of sinusitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

[Investigate the early impairment of renal function caused by chronic tonsillitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the chronic tonsillitis have early impairment of renal function or not. METHOD: Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the urinary microalbumin of 77 samples of chronic tonsillitis (group A: course of diseases is 1 to 3 years; group B: course of diseases is 3 to 5 years; group C: course of diseases is over 5 years) and 20 samples of normal (group D) respectively and the results were compared, including the detection and comparison of the urinary microalbumin of 19 samples of chronic tonsillitis preoperative and postoperative. RESULT: (1) group A: the urinary microalbumin is (9.8 +/- 1.6)mg/L; group B: the urinary microalbumin is (12.3 2.2) mg/L; group C: the urinary microalbumin is (17.6 +/- 3.2)mg/L; group D: the urinary microalbumin is (9.6 +/- 2.0) mg/L. The urinary microalbumin of chronic tonsillitis group C was higher than group D, there was a significant difference between these two groups ( P < 0.05). (2) The urinary microalbumin of chronic tonsillitis was (26.3 +/- 2.2)mg/L preoperatively and was (18.7 +/- 1.7)mg/L postoperatively. The urinary microalbumin of chronic tonsillitis significantly decreased after they had been surgical treated (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The urinary microalbumin of chronic tonsillitis was uptrend according to its course of diseases. The detection of the urinary microalbumin could be one of the diagnostic message for the early impairment of renal function which has been caused by chronic tonsillitis. The detection of the urinary microalbumin is important to evaluate the surgical treatment of chronic tonsillitis.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Muramidase and lactoferrin in adenoidal hypertrophies, hypertrophic and chronic infected tonsil tissue--a quantitative analysis].

BACKGROUND: Muramidase and lactoferrin are important components of the antimicrobial defense system. Muramidase has the ability of opsonization and immunopotentiation and therefore a close relation to the lymphatic tissue. Till now there are only immunohistochemical and microbiological studies on the presence of muramidase and lactoferrin in adenoid and tonsil tissue available. METHOD: We investigated the concentrations of muramidase and lactoferrin in palatine tonsils and adenoidal hypertrophies quantitatively using ELISA. MATERIAL: We investigated tissue of 18 palatine tonsils and 16 pharyngeal tonsils. RESULTS: We found a significant difference in the concentration of muramidase but no difference in the concentration of lactoferrin between adenoids and tonsils. There was no significant difference in the concentration of lactoferrin and muramidase between the hypertrophic and chronic infected tonsils. There was no correlation between the age of the patients and the concentration of muramidase and lactoferrin. A connection between the microbial biofilm, the concentration of the proteins and the recurrent tonsillitis is discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the production of muramidase and lactoferrin adenoids and tonsils play an important role in the local antimicrobial defense in any age or inflammation.

Adenoids↗
PubMed2001

Bacteriology of adenoids and tonsils in children with recurrent adenotonsillitis.

Adenoids and tonsils electively removed from 25 children with a history of recurrent group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) adenotonsillitis were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Two hundred twenty-four organisms (112 aerobes and facultatives, 110 anaerobes, and 2 Candida albicans) were isolated from the tonsils, and 229 (111 aerobes and facultatives and 118 anaerobes) were isolated from the adenoids. Mixed infection was present in all instances, with an average of 9.1 isolates per specimen. The predominant aerobes were Streptococcus sp, Haemophilus influenzae, and GABHS, and the prevalent anaerobes were Peptostreptococcus, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium spp. Beta-lactamase-producing bacteria were detected in 72 isolates recovered from 22 tonsils (88%) and in 74 isolates recovered from 21 adenoids (84%). Discrepancies in the organisms recovered were found between the tonsils and adenoids. Of the aerobic isolates, 20% were isolated only in tonsils and 18% only in adenoids. Of the anaerobes, 20% were found only in tonsils and 26% only in adenoids. This study demonstrates a polymicrobial aerobic-anaerobic flora in both adenoids and tonsils, and discrepancies in recovery of pathogens such as GABHS. The adenoids may serve as a potential source of tonsillitis caused by GABHS.

Adenoids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cytolytic activity of tonsil cells.

The ability of normal canine tonsil cells, and that of humans with chronic tonsillitis, to lyse heteroerythrocytes in vitro is shown. Heterologous erythrocyte destruction by tonsil cells is markedly increased after immunization of the animal. Tonsil cells of patients with chronic tonsillitis lyse the erythrocytes coated with streptococcus and staphylococcus antigens more actively. An experimental tonsillitis increases the ability of tonsils to lyse erythrocytes. Since cytolytic activity of tonsil cells is not altered by the removal of phagocytes and treatment with antiglobulin serum, one can presume that it is caused by T-lymphocytes.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Arthus tonsillitis in the rabbit. Histological findings and fibrinolytic activity in the blood.

Arthus-type hypersensitivity was induced experimentally in the tonsils of rabbits. Histopathological studies were performed on the Arthus tonsillitis so produced, and estimations of the plasma fibrinolytic activity were made on the blood of these rabbits. The findings obtained by macroscopic inspection of the tonsil revealed significant bleeding and swelling. Furthermore, the histopathological studies demonstrated bleed and infiltration of leukocytes into various parts of the parenchyma and connective tissue surrounding the tonsil during the early stages of tonsillitis. From the results concerning certain parameters of the fibrinolytic system in the blood, it was demonstrated that, during the early stage of tonsillitis, the fibrinolytic activity increased and whole plasmin was consumed. Based on the above findings, it seems that the change in fibrinolytic activity found in rabbits affected by Arthus tonsillitis closely resembles that in patients suffering from acute tonsillitis.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Hyaluronic acid and other glycosaminoglycans of the human palatal tonsils.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the proportions of individual glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) change with bacterial infection of the human palatal tonsils and after recovery as compared with the physiological state of the palatal tonsils. In tonsillitis the greatest changes were related to hyaluronic acid (decrease) and heparin (increase). In the cured palatal tonsils the content of GAG components was found to return to that of the physiological state of the tonsils. The changes in GAG components in the cured palatal tonsils may possible contribute to the reversal of the human tonsillitis. The supposition is drawn that also physiological function of the cured tonsils is resumed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Gamma delta T cells in the palatine tonsil--immunohistological and functional study].

In the present study, the gamma delta T cell content of the tonsillar T cell population has been evaluated for the first time. Flow cytometric analysis showed that 1.56% of T cells in palatine tonsils obtained from patients with recurrent tonsillitis (n = 17) expressed the gamma delta T cell receptor. Next, the tissue distribution of these cells in palatine tonsil was examined immunohistologically. Gamma delta T cell receptor positive cells and CD3 positive cells were counted in the crypt epithelium, tonsillar epithelium on the free surface and in the interfollicular space (n = 29). The gamma delta T cell content of the whole T cell population in each of these regions was calculated and compared. It was demonstrated that T cells in the crypt epithelium contained more gamma delta T cell receptor bearing cells than did T cells infiltrating the tonsillar epithelium on the free surface. T cells in the interfollicular space included even fewer gamma delta T cells. The gamma delta T cell content of tonsillar T cells showed a gradual decrease with age in each region. Then, infiltration of gamma delta T cells in the crypt epithelium was compared among recurrent tonsillitis, hypertrophic tonsil and focus tonsil (PPP) specimens. Recurrent tonsillitis showed the highest gamma delta T cell content in T cells infiltrating the crypt epithelium. There was no remarkable infiltration of these cells in the crypt epithelium of focus tonsil. Furthermore, the gamma delta T cell population was isolated from tonsillar lymphocytes and stimulated with staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[Expression of human beta-defensin in palatine tonsil].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the expression of human beta-defensin-1 (hBD-1) and human beta-defensin-2 (hBD-2) in palatine tonsil of normal subjects and patients with chronic tonsillitis, and to investigate the role of palatine tonsil in the innate immunity system. METHOD: Eighteen specimens of hyperplastic tonsils (n = 8) and chronic tonsillitis(n = 10) were examined using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULT: beta-defensin 1 mRNA was expressed in all tissue specimens, at levels that did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). beta-defensin 2 mRNA was detected in the specimens of chronic tonsillitis, but almost not in the normal subjects. Its expression level was significantly higher in chronic inflamed tonsils than in normal controls(P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that beta-defensin of the palatine tonsil may play an important role in innate defense against microorganisms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Deterioration of urinary findings after tonsil stimulation in patients with IgA nephropathy.

We studied whether urinary findings are affected by stimulation of tonsils in patients with IgA nephropathy. In 62 patients with IgA nephropathy and 20 patients with other renal diseases tonsils were stimulated by an ultra short wave for 10 min. Changes in amount of urinary protein, urinary sediment, blood leucocyte count, concentrations of serum IgA and serum secretory IgA were evaluated after tonsil stimulation. Forty of 62 patients with IgA nephropathy (65%) showed deterioration of urinary findings after the stimulation compared with 6 of 20 patients with other renal diseases (30%). The deterioration was significantly more frequent in IgA nephropathy than in other renal diseases (p <0.005). Previous episodes of gross hematuria following upper respiratory tract infections had occurred in 17 of 40 patients who showed deterioration of urinary findings after tonsil stimulation (43%) as against in 4 of 22 without deterioration (18%). The level of serum secretory IgA was higher in patients who showed deterioration of urinary findings after tonsil stimulation than in those who did not show it. Though tonsil stimulation increased blood leucocyte count it did not affect the concentrations of serum IgA or secretory IgA. It is concluded that tonsil stimulation often deteriorates urinary findings in patients with IgA nephropathy; therefore chronic tonsillitis may play a part in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Detection and characterization of Ah receptor in tissue and cells from human tonsils.

Ah receptor was identified and characterized in cytosol and nuclear extracts from human tonsils obtained at surgery from children 2 to 6 years of age. Ah receptor was found in cytosol prepared from whole-tonsil homogenates as well as in cytosol and nuclear fractions prepared from tonsil lymphocytes or tonsil fibroblasts grown in primary culture. Cytosolic Ah receptor was detectable in tonsillar tissue with either halogenated (2,3,7,8-[3H]tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)) or nonhalogenated (3-[3H]methylcholanthrene and [3H]benzo[a]pyrene) aromatic hydrocarbons and sedimented at approximately 9 S after velocity sedimentation on sucrose gradients. The apparent binding affinity (Kd) of [3H]TCDD for Ah receptor ranged from 3 to 12 nM in cytosols from seven different donors. The same analyses indicated a concentration of Ah receptor in human tonsils of approximately 100-300 fmol/mg cytosolic protein. Incubation of either tonsil lymphocytes or tonsil fibroblasts with [3H]TCDD resulted in transformation of cytosolic Ah receptor to a nuclear binding form which could be detected as a specifically labeled peak sedimenting at approximately 6 S on sucrose gradients. These data demonstrate the existence of Ah receptor in human tonsils and suggest that this immune organ may be an appropriate model for further studies on the mechanism and manifestation of aromatic hydrocarbon-induced immunotoxicity in man.

Cell Nucleus↗