title: T and B lymphocyte rosettes in tonsils of atopic and non-atopic children.
abstract: This investigation was carried out to determine the immunological function of the human tonsils, especially the role of lymphocytes of atopic and non-atopic children. An E- and EAC-rosette forming technique is introduced, with semiquantitative evaluation of T and B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of 56 normal subjects, 28 atopic and 5 non-atopic children of both sexes and different ages. The percentage of T and B lymphocytes in removed palatine tonsils in 28 atopic and 5 non-atopic children was calculated. The percentage of rosette-forming cells in E and EAC suspensions appeared to be independent of age and sex. The percentage of T lymphocytes in peripheral blood was significantly higher than in the palatine tonsils, whereas the percentage of B lymphocytes was significantly higher in the tonsils of atopic and non-atopic children than in the peripheral blood. The mean percentage of B lymphocytes in the tonsils of atopic children was significantly higher than in non-atopic 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 significantly higher percentage of EAC rosettes than in the tonsils free of adhesions. The percentage of T lymphocytes was statistically significantly higher in the small tonsils.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology*; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E