title: Altered dipeptidyl peptidase IV and prolyl endopeptidase activities in chronic tonsillitis, tonsillar hyperplasia and adenoid hyperplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse peptidase activities in the removed tonsils and adenoids from patients with chronic tonsillitis, tonsillar hyperplasia and adenoid hyperplasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have analyzed 48 tissue samples from patients undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for chronic tonsillitis, tonsillar hyperplasia or adenoid hyperplasia. Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy samples were collected and frozen for later enzyme analysis. The catalytic activity of a pool of peptidases (dipeptidyl peptidase IV, prolyl endopeptidase, aminopeptidase A, aminopeptidase N, aspartyl aminopeptidase, aminopeptidase B, neutral endopeptidase, pyroglutamyl peptidase I, puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase and cystinyl aminopeptidase) was measured fluorometrically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The activity of prolyl endopeptidase was higher in tonsillar hyperplasia and adenoid hyperplasia than in chronic tonsillitis. On the contrary, dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity was higher in chronic tonsillitis than in hypertrophic tissues. When data were stratified by age and gender, dipeptidyl peptidase IV was also found to be more active in adult and male chronic tonsillitis tissues. Inversely, dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity was higher in tissues of females with tonsillar hyperplasia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate the involvement of dipeptidyl peptidase IV and prolyl endopeptidase in the mechanisms underlying chronic tonsillitis, tonsillar hyperplasia and adenoid hyperplasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Gorka
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Larrinaga
authors.forename: Itxaro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.forename: Idoia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zarrazquin
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Casis
authors.forename: Jose Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Anta
authors.forename: Agustin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santaolalla
mesh_terms: D000233:Adenoidectomy; D000234:Adenoids / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000085822:Prolyl Oligopeptidases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C000705287:PREPL protein, human; D000085822:Prolyl Oligopeptidases