Y. Harabuchi et al., SPONTANEOUS IMMUNOGLOBULIN PRODUCTION BY ADENOIDAL AND TONSILLAR LYMPHOCYTES IN RELATION TO AGE AND OTITIS-MEDIA WITH EFFUSION, International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology, 35(2), 1996, pp. 117-125
Spontaneous immunoglobulin (Ig) production by autologous adenoidal and
tonsillar lymphocytes cultured without any mitogen was measured by an
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 18 children with or with
out otitis media with effusion (OME). Both IgG and IgA levels synthesi
zed by adenoidal or tonsillar lymphocytes significantly increased with
age. The average concentrations of IgG and IgA produced by adenoidal
lymphocytes from children with OME were significantly lower than those
from children without OME. Adenoidal lymphocytes produced IgG and IgM
af significantly lower levels than autologous tonsillar lymphocytes d
id in children with OME. In contrast, no significant difference betwee
n adenoidal and tonsillar lymphocytes was seen on Ig production for an
y isotypes in children without OME. These results may indicate immunol
ogical impairment of the adenoids associated with OME.