EFFECT OF SPECIFIC BACTERIA ON LYMPHOCYTE-PROLIFERATION IN DISEASED AND NONDISEASED TONSILS

Tonsillar tissue lymphocyte (TTL) function as measured by lymphocyte p roliferation was assessed in vitro in 38 tonsils-30 diseased and 8 nor mal controls. TTLs from diseased and control tonsils were challenged w ith intact, heat-inactivated bacteria which may be found in the core o f diseased tonsils these bacteria were Streptococcus pyogenes and Hemo philus influenzae type B (HIB), as well as the dominant bacterium (DB) grown from that particular tonsillar core. The phytomitogen leukoaggl utinin (LA) was used as a nonspecific activator. Lymphocyte proliferat ion was quantified and reported using a stimulation index (SI) which w as based upon viable cell counts at 2, 4, and 6 days following inocula tion. Overall, the greatest degree of lymphocyte proliferation in dise ased TTLs (SI = .91) was produced by HIB. However, both SP and HIB pro duced more lymphocyte proliferation in the nondiseased TTLs than in th e diseased TTLs (P<.01). H influenzae (non-B) and group A beta-hemolyt ic streptococci were the pathogens most frequently cultured as the dom inant bacteria from the core of diseased tonsils; Streptococcus virida ns was most frequently cultured in nondiseased tonsils. The DB caused greater TTL proliferation in diseased (SI = .89) versus control (SI = .63) TTLs (P<.001). These findings suggest a differential proliferativ e response in vitro for diseased and nondiseased TTLs in response to s pecific bacteria. The role of possibly pathogenic bacteria and commens als, as well as the implications for clinical disease, are discussed.