Background and Objectives : Palatine tonsils and adenoids protect the human body from various pathogens entering through the pharyngeal mucosa. many studies have been performed for the specific immunity, but the innate immunity related to
cell-mediated
immunity has been rarely studied. Natural killer(NK) cells, CD5+ B lymphocytes, γδT lymphocytes are the key mediators of natural immunity. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of lymphocytes related to the innate
immunity
property in these lymphoid tissues by examinig the frequency and distribution of these cells. Materials and Methods : Palatine tonsils and adenoids were obtained from 12 children and 5 adults with idiopathic tonsillar hypertrophy.
Immunohistochemisty
was performed to examine the distribution of the CD5+ B lymphocytes, γδT lymphocytes and NK cells, and the flow cytometry was performed for the frequency of these cells compared with that of the patient's blood. Results : On
immunohistochemistry, CD5+ B cells were strongly stained mainly on the interfollicular and subepithelial areas of both the palatine tonsil and adenoid. But, γδT lymphocytes, and CD56+ cells were weakly stained on the
interfollicular, epithelial, and subepithelial areas of both lymphoid tissues. Flow cytometry showed no difference in the frequency of CD5+ CD19+ B cells and CD3+ γδT lymphocytes in theses tissues compared to
that
of
the blood. The frequency of NK cells of these tissues was much lower than that of the blood. And the frequency of CD3+ γδT lymphocytes of adults was lower than that of children in both the palatine tonsils and blood. Conclusion : In
the
palatine tonsils and adenoids, there were no active immune cells related to innate immunity, except for the CD5+ B lymphocytes in the non-stimulating state. And the innate
immunity of the lymphoid tissues has possibility of association with the changing
activity according to age.
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