Interleukin-6(IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates the immune response, acute phase reactions, and hematopoiesis. It is involved in induction of B-cell differentiation and induction of acute phase proteins. Intercellular adhesion
molecule-1(ICAM-1) is an adhesion molecule expressed in high endothelial venules(HEVs) in humans, that is involved in the interactions between leukocytes and endothelial cells. ICAM-1 also plays a critical role during an inflammatory response in
the
interaction between activated endothelium and immunocompetent cells. Human tonsil specimens were stained by immunohitochemical method to compare the expression of IL-6 and ICAM-1 with the degree of tonsillar hypertrophy, age, and growth status.
In
addition, the correlation between expression of IL-6 and ICAM-1 was studied.
@ES The results were as follows:
@EN 1) IL-6 was highly expressed on endothelial cells, plasma cells, and lymphocytes.
2) ICAM-1 was mainly expressed on lymphocytes in interfollicular areas and partially expressed on lymphocytes in germinal centers.
3) The expression of IL-6 and ICAM-1 was increased as the grade of tonsillar hypertrophy became high(P<0.05).
4) The expression of both IL-6 and ICAM-1 were slightly increased before puberty(P<0.05).
5) The expression of ICAM-1 was increased along as the expression of IL-6 became increased(P<0.05).
This study showed that interaction of IL-6 and ICAM-1 was partly involved in tonsillar hypertrophy in recurrent tonsillitis of children. (Korean J Otolarygol 39 : 5, 1996)
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