title: Fibronectin in the palatine tonsil as a susceptibility marker in Egyptian rheumatic families: histological and immunohistochemical studies.
abstract: Rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) are the multisystem autoimmune sequel of group A streptococci (GAS) infection of the upper respiratory passages, mainly tonsillopharyngitis. The major receptor on the surface of human palatine tonsil for GAS is fibronectin (FN; adhesin receptor). Early detection of RF susceptibility is considered as an important aim of this study. Therefore, the present study aimed to use FN immunoreactivity (FN-ir) as a marker for early detection of rheumatic susceptible children with palatine tonsil crypts surface epithelium. A total of 30 palatine tonsillar specimens were obtained from children aged from 3 to 15 years. Histological studies showed moderate vascular changes and more than four apparent epithelial disruptions in the crypt epithelium. FN-ir showed a significant increase in FN in the basal layers of surface epithelium, subepithelial connective tissue and interfollicular areas. Tonsils of children in rheumatic families showed significant increase in FN in subepithelial connective tissue areas with more than one apparent crypt epithelial disruption compared to normal children. We can conclude that FN plays a central role in the RF and differentially distributed in the functional compartments of the palatine tonsil in children with RHD, so FN-ir can be used as a marker for rheumatic susceptibility.
authors: Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Fayoum University, Egypt.
authors: Maha Abo
authors: MA
authors: Gazia
authors: Zoology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Tanta University, Egypt toussonehab@yahoo.com.
authors: Ehab
authors: E
authors: Tousson
authors: Pediatric Department, Tanta University, Egypt.
authors: Mokhtar Abd
authors: MA
authors: El-Fatah
authors: Cardiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt.
authors: Ahmed S
authors: AS
authors: Shoheib
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004534:Egypt; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005353:Fibronectins
keywords: Palatine tonsil; crypt epithelium; fibronectin immunoreactivity; group A streptococcus; rheumatic fever; rheumatic heart disease