Immune responses of adenoidal lymphocytes specific to haemophilus influenzae in the nasopharynx

Objectives: Investigate immune responses of adenoidal lymphocytes against outer‐membrane protein P6 purified from nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (HI). Clarify the role of adenoids in regulating the colonization of HI in the nasopharynx. Study Design: Microbiological and immunological examinations of adenoids obtained from 21 children, 15 boys and five girls, from 1 to 13 years of age (median, 5 y), suffering from adenoidal hypertrophy complicated by otitis media with effusion (OME). Methods: The incidence of HI in adenoids was compared with the number of P6‐specific immunoglobulin (Ig) A–secreting cells in adenoids, determined by enzyme‐linked immunoassay. Results: Quantitative culture assay showed significant correlation between the numbers of HI in adenoids and those in nasopharyngeal secretions (NS). In children aged 5 years and younger, the numbers of P6‐specific IgA‐secreting cells in adenoids were significantly correlated with IgA antibody titers in NS (r = 0.68, P < .05). The numbers of P6‐specific IgG‐ and IgA‐secreting cells were lower in children aged 6 years and older than in children aged 5 years and younger. Furthermore, the number of P6‐specific IgA‐secreting cells was significantly increased in HI‐negative subjects when compared with HI‐positive subjects (P < .05). Conclusions: Adenoids play an important role as an effector site of the mucosal immune system in the upper respiratory tract. IgA immune responses in adenoids are responsible for the clearance of HI from the nasopharynx. Key Words: Haemophilus influenzae, adenoid, nasopharyngeal secretion, P6, IgA.

[1]  Kerakawauchi Hideomi,et al.  Immune Responses against Streptococcus pyogenes in Human Palatine Tonsils , 1997 .

[2]  Y. Kurono,et al.  Immune responses against Streptococcus pyogenes in human palatine tonsils. , 1997, The Laryngoscope.

[3]  J. Bernstein,et al.  Adenoid lymphocyte responses to outer membrane protein P6 of nontypable Haemophilus influenzae in children with and without otitis media. , 1996, Acta oto-laryngologica. Supplementum.

[4]  H. Faden,et al.  Cellular immunity to the P6 outer membrane protein of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae , 1995, Infection and immunity.

[5]  J. Hed,et al.  Flow cytometric quantification of lymphocyte subpopulations and immunoglobulin-containing cells in adenoid tissue in relation to secretory otitis media and age. , 1995, Acta oto-laryngologica.

[6]  L. Duffy,et al.  Nasopharyngeal colonization with nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae and recurrent otitis media. Tonawanda/Williamsville Pediatrics. , 1994, The Journal of infectious diseases.

[7]  A. Lindberg,et al.  Haemophilus influenzae resides and multiplies intracellularly in human adenoid tissue as demonstrated by in situ hybridization and bacterial viability assay , 1994, Infection and immunity.

[8]  A. Lindberg,et al.  Quantitative Bacterial Culture from Adenoid Lymphatic Tissue with Special Reference to Haemophilus influenzae Age-associated Changes , 1993 .

[9]  L. Brodsky,et al.  Bacteriology and immunology of normal and diseased adenoids in children. , 1993, Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery.

[10]  J. Wactawski‐Wende,et al.  Micro-ecology of the nasopharyngeal bacterial flora in otitis-prone and non-otitis-prone children. , 1993, Acta oto-laryngologica.

[11]  D. Nadal,et al.  Distribution characteristics of immunoglobulin-secreting cells in adenoids. Relationship to age and disease. , 1992, International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology.

[12]  H. Takahashi,et al.  Distributions of Eustachian Tube Goblet Cells and Glands in Children with and without Otitis Media , 1992, The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology.

[13]  J. Bernstein,et al.  Nasopharyngeal Flora in the First Three Years of Life in Normal and Otitis-Prone Children , 1991, The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology.

[14]  Y. Kurono,et al.  Inhibition of Bacterial Adherence by Nasopharyngeal Secretions , 1991, The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology.

[15]  Y. Kurono,et al.  The role of bacterial adherence in otitis media with effusion. , 1990, Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery.

[16]  Y. Kurono,et al.  Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus in otitis media with effusion. , 1988, Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery.

[17]  G. Gates,et al.  Effect of adenoidectomy upon children with chronic otitis media with effusion , 1988, The Laryngoscope.

[18]  D. Lim,et al.  Current concepts of pathogenesis of otitis media: a review. , 1988, Acta oto-laryngologica. Supplementum.

[19]  M. Apicella,et al.  Nontypable Haemophilus influenzae: a review of clinical aspects, surface antigens, and the human immune response to infection. , 1987, Reviews of infectious diseases.

[20]  K. Helweg-larsen,et al.  Lymphocytes of adenoid tissue. , 1979, Acta oto-laryngologica. Supplementum.

[21]  John E. Bennett,et al.  Principles and practice of infectious diseases. Vols 1 and 2. , 1979 .

[22]  B. Rynnel-Dagöö.  Polyclonal activation to immunoglobulin secretion in human adenoid lymphocytes induced by bacteria from nasopharynx in vitro. , 1978, Clinical and Experimental Immunology.

[23]  P. Ogra.  Effect of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy on nasopharyngeal antibody response to poliovirus. , 1971, The New England journal of medicine.