ANIMAL-MODEL OF FOCAL TONSILLAR INFECTION - HUMAN TONSILLAR LYMPHOCYTES INDUCE SKIN LESION IN SCID MICE

Based mainly on clinical evidence, a concept of focal tonsillar infect ions affecting certain skin diseases has been established. In such dis orders as pustulosis palmaris et plantaris (PPP), there have been sign ificant improvement of clinical manifestations following tonsillectomy . However, the pathophysiological mechanism of PPP due to focal tonsil lar infections has not been made clear. In order to clarify the relati onship between tonsil and PPP, an in vivo experimental model of this d isease was developed by reconstituting severe combined immunodeficienc y (SCID) mice with tonsillar lymphocytes (TL) from patients with PPP. The results can be summarized as follows: i) The SCID mice reconstitut ed with PPP-TL developed skin lesions with fur-loss and eruption aroun d their cheek and forehead; ii) The reconstituted SCID mice showed lon g-term presence of human IgG in their sera, reaching maximum level at 6-8 weeks after the transfer; iii) Human anti-keratin antibody was fou nd in the sera of reconstituted SCID mice reflecting that of the donor s; iv) A section of the skin lesions showed thickened epidermis and bl ister formation. A few CD4(+) human lymphocytes were seen around the l esions, whereas CD8(+) lymphocytes and B cells were hardly seen; v) Hu man Ige deposits were observed in skin lesions of SCID mouse.