title: Characterization of B-Cells in tonsils of patients diagnosed with pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated streptococcus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus (PANDAS) patients demonstrate a significantly different number of B-Cells or markers of activity when compared to recurrent Group A Streptococcus or Obstructive Sleep Apnea patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective Cohort Study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic University Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tonsil tissue was collected from twenty-two patients in the operating room and organized into three groups. Ten clinically diagnosed PANDAS, six Group A Streptococcus and six Obstructive Sleep Apnea patients were included in this study. Each tissue sample was extracted with MSD Tris Lysis Buffer and protein lysates were analyzed for CD 19, B-Cell Activating Factor and B-Cell Activating Receptor by western blot methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on ANOVA analysis, there was no significant difference in the expression of B-Cell Activating Factor, B-Cell Activating Receptor or CD 19 when comparing the three study groups by western blot analysis methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this prospective cohort study, it appears that PANDAS patients do not demonstrate increased number of B-Cells, expression of B-Cell Activating Factor or B-Cell Activating Receptor when compared to Group A Streptococcus or Obstructive Sleep Apnea cohorts. As a result, further evaluation of the cell-mediated immune system is warranted to provide further insight into the pathophysiology of PANDAS. In addition, we must investigate if PANDAS patients only demonstrate increased B-Cell number or activity when undergoing an acute Tic/OCD exacerbation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC 20007, United States; Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20007, United States. Electronic address: Adw27@georgetown.edu.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walls
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC 20007, United States; Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20007, United States.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dermody
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC 20007, United States; National Institute of Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States.
authors.forename: Ravindran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumaran
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC 20007, United States; Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20007, United States.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC 20007, United States; Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20007, United States.
authors.forename: Earl H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Harley
mesh_terms: D018941:Antigens, CD19 / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000523:psychology; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000032:analysis; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000209:etiology; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000276:immunology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000523:psychology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes
chemical_list: D018941:Antigens, CD19; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D053265:B-Cell Activation Factor Receptor
keywords: Head and neck surgery; Otolaryngology; PANDAS; Pediatrics; Tonsillectomy