Abstract
The palatine tonsil is a significant part of the secondary immune system. Tonsillitis and idiopathic tonsillar hypertrophy (ITH) are the most common pathologies of this component. Although there are studies on their pathogenesis, there is insufficient study of the role of antioxidant agents. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) isozymes contribute to the antioxidation reactions in the tissue via the glutathione pathway. The purpose in this study was to reveal the levels of the GST enzyme activity and protein expression of GSTP1 and GSTA1 isozymes in patients with tonsillitis and tonsil hypertrophy, and to investigate their role in the pathogenesis of these diseases. Sixteen patients with recurrent tonsillitis and 5 patients with ITH and were included in the study. Cytosolic extracts were prepared from post-tonsillectomy tissues of both patient groups and GST enzyme activities were measured. The expression of GSTP1 was found to be significantly higher than GSTA1 in tissue samples of patients with ITH and recurrent tonsillitis (P<0.001). Increased GST activity and GSTP1 isozyme expression were shown in patients with recurrent tonsillitis compared to the idiopathic tonsillar hypertrophy study group. There was a positive correlation between the expressions of GSTP1 (P=0.040; r=0.47). Increased GST activity and GSTP1 isozymes were demonstrated histologically in the pathogenesis of ITH and recurrent tonsillitis. We believe that the data of changes in antioxidant capacity, obtained from studies with more extensive and larger samples, would support our findings.
Highlights
Palatine tonsils, which are located at the entrance to the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts and are the first places of exposure of the body to pathogens and antigenicity through inhalation and digestion, are components of the secondary immune system with immunobiological activity[1,2]
As the palatine tonsils have an active role in the immune system, pathologies such as idiopathic tonsillar hypertrophy (ITH) and recurrent tonsillitis (RT) are frequently observed[3]
While both fibrosis and changes at the quantity of the follicles are observed in the extrafollicular tissue in recurrent tonsillitis, idiopathic tonsillar hypertrophy is a pathological condition characterized by lymphoid hyperplasia in the germinal center of the tonsil
Summary
Palatine tonsils, which are located at the entrance to the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts and are the first places of exposure of the body to pathogens and antigenicity through inhalation and digestion, are components of the secondary immune system with immunobiological activity[1,2]. As the palatine tonsils have an active role in the immune system, pathologies such as idiopathic tonsillar hypertrophy (ITH) and recurrent tonsillitis (RT) are frequently observed[3] While both fibrosis and changes at the quantity of the follicles are observed in the extrafollicular tissue in recurrent tonsillitis, idiopathic tonsillar hypertrophy is a pathological condition characterized by lymphoid hyperplasia in the germinal center of the tonsil. As it is known, free radicals have adverse impacts on overall metabolic activity and the immune defense system. With the increase in such products, tissue damage is occurred ,and it causes several pathologies such as; atherosclerosis, stroke, nasal polyps, cataract, arthritis, hearing loss, and reperfusion injury[5,6,7]
Published Version (Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have