A potential role for arginase in recurrent infections and hypertrophy of tonsillar and adenoidal tissue.
Since arginase has been found to be an arginine-depleting and nitric oxide synthase-regulating enzyme, the present study was devised to examine hypertrophied and infected tonsil and adenoid arginase activity in relation to a metabolic arginase-nitric oxide pathway and its association with disease processes. Tissues were taken from 32 children undergoing adenotonsillectomy. There was a statistically significant difference between the two tissue enzyme activities, with tonsillar arginase activity being higher than the corresponding adenoidal tissue (P < 0.005). This suggests a potential role for tissue arginase activity as an outcome module and a contributing factor in chronic recurrent infection and hypertrophy of tonsillar and adenoidal tissues.
Elgün
S
S
Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Turkey. elgun@tr-net.net.tr
Güney
K
K
Tuncer
M
M
Gökhun
I H
IH
D000234:Adenoids / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D001119:Arginase / Q000378:metabolism*; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology*; D012008:Recurrence; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000473:pathology*
D001120:Arginine; D001119:Arginase