title: Are thymus-derived lymphocytes (T cells) defective in the nasopharyngeal and palatine tonsils of children?
abstract: The present study was conducted to evaluate the response of adenoidal T cells and B cells in the production of immunoglobulins. There appears to be a consistent inability of adenoidal T cells to turn on B cells to mature into immunoglobulin-secreting plasma cells. This phenomenon did not appear to be due to suppressor activity of adenoidal T cells because T cells from other sources appeared to effectively result in adenoidal B cell maturation, even in the presence of adenoidal T cells. Both tonsils and adenoids appear to have defective IL-2 production, in response to both mitogens and specific antigens. It is hypothesized that a cytokine(s) may be released in adenoids that downregulate IL-2 production and result in immune suppression in the adenoids of children with recurrent otitis media and chronic sinusitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, State University of New York at Buffalo.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rich
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Odziemiec
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ballow
mesh_terms: D000233:Adenoidectomy; D000234:Adenoids / Q000276:immunology*; D000293:Adolescent; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology*; D012008:Recurrence; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007376:Interleukin-2