IMMUNE-RESPONSES AGAINST STREPTOCOCCUS-PYOGENES IN HUMAN PALATINE TONSILS

We investigated cellular immunity against Streptococcus pyogenes in hu man tonsils by measuring antigen-specific immunoglobulin-secreting cel ls and the production of cytokines from CD4(+) T cells in response to M proteins. The incidence of S pyogenes in tonsils was significantly h igher in patients with recurrent tonsillitis (RT) than in patients wit h tonsillar hypertrophy (TH). M protein-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA ) and immunoglobulin G spot-forming cells were increased in patients w ith RT compared with patients with TH. In RT the number of M protein-s pecific IgA spot-forming cells was significantly greater in the S pyog enes-negative subjects than in the S pyogenes-positive subjects. Proli feration of CD4(+) T cells and production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gam ma) and interleukins -2, -4, -5, and -6 (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-6) f rom those T cells were observed in response to M protein. The concentr ations of IFN-gamma and IL-4 were higher in RT than in TH. These findi ngs suggest that S pyogenes is associated with the pathogenesis of RT and that immune responses against M protein may play an important role in preventing the colonization of this bacteria in tonsils.