title: Cytokine expression and production by tonsillar lymphocytes.
abstract: Expression of various cytokines in the tonsillar compartments, and in vitro cytokine production and cytokine mRNA expression by tonsillar lymphocytes (TL), were investigated. In immunohistological analysis, a wide variety of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 was expressed intensively in the lymphoepithelial symbiosis (LES). A certain number of cells producing IL-6, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was distributed not only in the LES but also in the extrafollicular area. A significant amount of IL-6, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the culture supernatants of TL cultured with streptococcal antigen, even without any mitogens. Furthermore, mRNA of IL-6, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction on the TL freshly isolated and with streptococcal stimulated antigen, whereas, production of IL-1 alpha, IL-4, and IL-5, and expression of their mRNA were not found on TL with or without streptococcal stimulation. These data indicate that tonsils are highly active immunological organs containing a wide variety of cytokine-producing cells, and suggest that IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 may play an important role on the immune response to bacteria in the tonsil.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Harabuchi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wakashima
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murakata
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kataura
mesh_terms: D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000503:physiopathology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha