IgE response to staphylococcal enterotoxins in adenoid tissues from atopic children.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate local production of staphylococcal superantigen (SAg)-specific IgE in adenoid tissue and to compare its prevalence with that in the tonsil and serum, as well as its relationship with markers of allergic inflammation within adenoid tissue.


METHODS
Prospective randomized study.


METHODS
We recruited 18 atopic children who had rhinitis symptoms and were sensitized to more than one common aeroallergen, and 22 nonatopic children undergoing adenotonsillectomy. Immunoassays were performed using adenoid tissue homogenate to quantify the levels of three staphylococcal SAg-specific IgE (SEA, SEB, and TSST-1), total IgE, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), mast cell tryptase, and soluble CD23.


RESULTS
Three kinds of SAg-specific IgE were detected in the adenoid and tonsil tissues of atopic patients, but not in those of nonatopic patients. In atopic children, the prevalence of SEA-, SEB-, and TSST-1-specific IgE in adenoid tissues (61.1%, 27.8%, 33.3%, respectively) were higher than those in tonsil tissues (38.9%, 5.6%, 11.1%, respectively) and in sera (11.1%, 27.8%, 16.7%, respectively). Subjects with high SEA levels showed significantly higher serum and adenoid total IgE, with higher eosinophilia. Significant correlations were noted between SAg-specific IgE levels and tryptase levels in adenoid tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
Local specific IgE response to staphylococcal SAgs, especially SEA may contribute to ongoing allergic inflammation in adenoid tissue from atopic children.
Shin
Seung-Youp
SY
Department of Otolaryngology, Kyunghee University Hospital and Kyunghee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Choi
Gil-Soon
GS
Lee
Kun-Hee
KH
Kim
Sung-Wan
SW
Cho
Joong-Saeng
JS
Park
Hae-Sim
HS
D000234:Adenoids / Q000276:immunology*; D000293:Adolescent; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000276:immunology*; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000276:immunology*; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology*
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D018089:Superantigens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E