title: Immunologic response of adenoidal lymphocytes to respiratory syncytial virus.
abstract: Adenoidal lymphocytes obtained from 43 subjects with serum antibodies to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were established in culture in vitro and analyzed for immunoglobulin (Ig) and RSV-specific antibody synthesis. Spontaneous synthesis of Ig was consistently observed in culture supernatants. The ratios of IgA to IgG and IgM to IgG in adenoidal lymphocyte culture supernatant were higher than in serum. In cell cultures stimulated with RSV or pokeweed mitogen, RSV antibody activity was detected in 25 of 43 (58.1%) for IgG, 5 of 43 (11.6%) for IgA, and 4 of 43 (9.3%) for IgM. Also, RSV-specific IgG was detected in some supernatants from unstimulated cultures. In seven cases the cultures of autologous tonsillar lymphocytes were also investigated. Autologous organs exhibited similar polyclonal Ig production and RSV-specific antibody synthesis. These observations demonstrate that both adenoids and palatine tonsils are continuously engaged in synthesis of local antibodies to viral pathogens available to the nasopharynx and respiratory mucosa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York, Buffalo.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Soh
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nadal
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schläpfer
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Ogra
mesh_terms: D000234:Adenoids / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007136:Immunoglobulins