title: [Superoxide production by neutrophils in patients with recurrent tonsillitis].
abstract: Superoxide anion (O2-) production by peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was measured by the cytochrome C method in 57 patients with recurrent tonsillitis. There was no significant correlation between superoxide production and episodes of acute tonsillitis, serum C-reactive protein levels, or peripheral white blood cell count. However, the superoxide production by PMNs was inversely correlated with serum anti-streptolysin-O titers (r = -.38, p = .008). Furthermore, the mean +/- SD superoxide levels produced by PMNs from patients with high serum ASO titers (> 71 U/ml), 69.58 +/- 30.56 nM/10(6) cells, was significantly lower than that of patients with low serum ASO titers (< 71 U/ml), 89.83 +/- 38.90 nM/10(6) cells (p = 0.037), and that of healthy adult controls, 102.27 +/- 44.67 nM/10(6) cells (p = 0.012). In addition, the effect of Streptococcus pyogenes on superoxide production by PMNs was studied in vitro. Superoxide production by PMNs preincubated with 600 micrograms/ml culture supernatant of Streptococcus pyogenes T4 (not detected) and T12 (34.82 +/- 31.40 nM/10(6) cells) was significantly lower than that of PMNs preincubated with culture medium (136.09 +/- 70.41 nM/10(6) cells; p < 0.05, each). Inhibition of superoxide production by PMNs by preincubation with culture supernatant of Streptococcus was increased by the protein in the culture supernatant in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings suggest that frequent and/or persistent streptococcal infections may reduce the superoxide production by PMNs, leading to recurrent episodes of tonsillitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Harabuchi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kukuminato
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kataura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D012008:Recurrence; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000378:metabolism; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013481:Superoxides