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Factors of tonsillar involution: Age-dependent changes in B-cell activation and Langerhans' cell density

Faktoren der Tonsilleninvolution: Altersabhängige Veränderungen von Langerhans-Zell-Dichte und B-Lymphocyten-Aktivierung

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Zusammenfassung

Inkorporationsexperimente mit radioaktiv markiertem Thymidin sowie morphologische und autoradiographische Untersuchungen an isolierten B- und T-Lymphocyten der Tonsille zeigen, daß überwiegend B-Zellen aktiviert sind bzw. proliferieren. Das Auftreten einzelner aktivierter T-Zellen wird durch Kombination von Autoradiographie und Cytochemie bewiesen. Mit steigendem Alter nimmt die Anzahl aktivierter B-Zellen ab. Als Ursache wird eine Verminderung der Zahl von Langerhans-Zellen, den Antigenrezeptoren im Kryptenepithel, angenommen. Sowohl eine verminderte B-Zell-Aktivierung als auch eine herabgesetzte Antigenrezeptordichte im Kryptenepithel werden als Auslöser der Tonsilleninvolution und als pathogenetische Faktoren der chronischen Tonsillitis diskutiert.

Summary

Incorporation of radioactive thymidine as well as morphological and autoradiographical investigations performed with isolated B and T lymphocytes of the tonsil show that first of all B cells are activated or proliferating. The combination of autoradiography with cytochemistry was the only means of detecting a few activated T cells. With increasing age the number of activated B cells decreases. A reduced number of Langerhans' cells acting as antigen receptors in the epithelium of the crypt is assumed to be one cause of this phenomenon. Tonsillar involution originates from both a decline in the antigen receptors and in the depletion of B-cell activation. Malfunctions in these processes give rises to pathogenic factors in chronic tonsillitis.

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Abbreviations

AET:

2-Aminoethylisothiuronium bromide hydrochloride

ANAE:

Acid α-naphthylacetat esterase

ATP-ase:

Adenosinetriphosphatase

EAC:

Erythrocyte-antibody complement

FCS:

Fetal calf serum

HEPES:

N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-ethansulfonic acid

SRBC:

Sheep red blood cells

PBS:

Phosphate buffered saline

POPOP:

(1,4-bis-[2-(5-Phenyloxazolyl)] benzene

PPO:

2,5-Diphenyloxazole

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Siegel, G., Linse, R. & Macheleidt, S. Factors of tonsillar involution: Age-dependent changes in B-cell activation and Langerhans' cell density. Arch Otorhinolaryngol 236, 261–269 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00454218

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00454218

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