Differential chemokine expression patterns in tonsillar disease

Mandapathil, M.; H.Beier, U.; Graefe, H.; Kröger, B.; Hedderich, J.; Maune, S.; Meyer, J. E

This study included 89 patients who underwent surgery at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Germany, for hyperplasia of either the palatine or pharyngeal tonsil, or chronic inflammation of the palatine tonsil, defined as recurrent acute tonsillitis over a period of > 6 months. Samples were retrieved during surgery after written patient consent was obtained, in accordance with the ethical commission of the Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, subjected to the 1975 Helsinki Declaration. Tissue samples were divided into four subgroups, based on origin, patient past medical history, clinical presentation and histologic diagnosis established by certified pathologists of the University of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel. The subgroups included 21 hyperplastic palatine tonsils, 25 adenoids, 16 chronic inflammatory palatine tonsils and 27 chronic inflammatory palatine tonsils with histologic signs of acute inflammation as per presence of cryptal ulcerations and leukocyte infiltration. At the time of procedure, the median of age for each subgroup was 6, 5, 26, and 7, respectively. Immediately after collection, samples were frozen in liquid nitrogen, and stored at -80°C for further processing.