INTRODUCTION

Palatine tonsil disease often coexists with dermatological diseases. Correct diagnosis of inflammation of the palatine tonsil tissue and removal of the diseased palatine tonsils results in remission of the disease.

AIM

To determine similarities and differences in the immunohistochemistry profile of the palatine tonsil tissue between tonsillitis and hypertrophy, including location of the immunohistochemistry reactions in specific histological sites.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective analysis of 50 palatine tonsils that had undergone tonsillectomy due to tonsillitis (30 cases) and hypertrophy (20 cases) was performed. The collected material underwent immunohistochemistry staining for: IL-1, IL-10, CD25, CD40, and CD69, and subsequently phenotypic expression of the obtained results was performed including their histological location.

RESULTS

Statistically significant differences ( < 0.05) between the tonsillitis and hypertrophy groups were found for almost all IHC reactions in the epithelium covering the tonsils for CD-25, CD-69, IL-1, IL-10. Furthermore, significant differences between these groups were found for IL-10 reaction in the subepithelial inflammatory infiltrate and follicular centres of lymphatic follicles as well as for CD-69 reaction between the follicles. When all the locations were summarized, significant ( < 0.05) differences were found for all IHC reactions except for CD-40.

CONCLUSIONS

The investigated markers and cytokines: CD25 and CD69, and IL-1 and IL-10 are more abundant in tonsillitis than in hypertrophy of the palatine tonsils.