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Adenoidal follicular T helper cells provide stronger B ‐cell help than those from tonsils
Author(s) -
Morris Matthew C.,
Kozara Kevin,
Salamone Frank,
Benoit Margo,
Pichichero Michael E.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.25536
Subject(s) - follicular phase , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biology , medicine
Objectives/Hypothesis The tonsils and adenoids are secondary lymphoid organs, where antigen processing and immune cell development occur to control bacterial colonization and infection in the upper respiratory tract. Both organs are abundant in follicular T helper cells (T FH ), a subset of T cells specialized for promoting B‐cell development. There are no prior studies on differences between the immune cells of the tonsils and adenoids and whether the cells function differently. Study Design In vitro assays to assess cell phenotype of tonsils and adenoids from young children (median age = 40 months). Methods Mononuclear cells from tonsils and adenoids were cultured with or without 1 µg/mL Staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB) for 4 days. Cell phenotype and function were assessed by flow cytometry and multiplex enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Results We found that in resting adenoids, T FH expressed higher CXCR5 and inducible costimulator but lower PD‐1 than those from the tonsils, and that adenoidal B cells expressed higher CD27. Upon polyclonal stimulation with SEB, both T FH and B cells from the adenoids proliferated to a greater extent, and culture supernatants contained higher levels of interleukin 21. Conclusions We conclude that the cells of the adenoid are disposed toward the provision of more robust B‐cell help than the tonsils. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope , 126:E80–E85, 2016