Human salivary immunoglobulin and antigen-specific antibody activity aftertonsillectomy

The importance of the lymphoid tissue collectively known as Waldeyer's ring , which includes the palatine, lingual and nasopharyngeal tonsils, in the i nduction and contribution of specific antibody responses in human saliva is not clear. The purpose of this study was to determine whether salivary imm moglobulin A (IgA) levels differ in quantity and quality between subjects w ho have had a tonsillectomy and age, sex and race-matched controls. Parotid saliva, whole saliva, and blood serum samples were collected from 25 volun teer children who had undergone tonsillectomy (T-) within 6-14 months of sa mpling and from 25 age, sex and race-matched controls, The levels of total IgA (and subclasses) in saliva, and of antigen-specific salivary IgA and se rum IgA and IgG antibodies to 4-9 relevant antigens were analyzed by ELISA. No significant difference was observed in the mean total IgA and IgA subcl ass levels in parotid and whole saliva, although the mean levels for childr en with a T- were slightly lower. Children with a T- had significantly high er parotid salivary IgA and IgA1 specific/total activity than controls, The total and specific whole saliva IgA and the specific serum IgA or IgG acti vities were not significantly different from controls. These results indica te an association between the removal of tonsils and increased levels of sp ecific IgA activity in parotid saliva within the first year after a T-.