SYSTEMIC IMMUNE-RESPONSE TO STREPTOCOCCAL AND STAPHYLOCOCCAL LIPOTEICHOIC ACIDS IN CHILDREN WITH RECURRENT TONSILLITIS

The antibodies to LTA of Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes) and of S taphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in sera from 110 children with or wit hout recurrent tonsillitis were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The antibody of IgA class was not detected in any sera . There was a significant positive correlation between IgG and IgM ant ibody levels to LTA of S. pyogenes and those to LTA of S. aureus. Ther e was no significant correlation between anti-LTA IgM antibody and age or episodes of tonsillitis. However, serum anti-LTA IgG levels in you nger patients (less than or equal to 7 y.o.) were significantly lower than those in their elders (> 7 y.o.) (anti-S. pyogenes; p = 0.0007, a nti-S. aureus; p = 0.007). Serum anti-LTA IgG antibody levels correlat ed inversely with episodes of tonsillitis in younger patients (less th an or equal to 7 y.o.) (S. pyogenes: r = -0.362, p = 0.0082, S. aureus : r = -0.276, p = 0.047). These findings suggest that systemic hyposen sitivity to LTA of S. pyogenes and S. aureus may be a possible cause o f habitualness of tonsillitis in young children.