Cell-mediated immune response to bacterial products in human tonsils and peripheral blood lymphocytes

Lymphoproliferative responses of tonsillar tissue lymphocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin and specific bacterial product antigens were studied in children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Tonsillar tissue lymphocytes responded to optimal concentrations of phytohemagglutinin, Varidase, and streptolysin-O in a manner similar to peripheral blood lymphocytes. Higher base-line mitogenic activity in tonsillar lymphocytes was frequently associated with the presence of Staphylococcus aureus in the tonsils. Tonsillar tissue lymphocytes from 23% of the subjects with the highest base-line mitogenic activity manifested a decreased response to in vitro stimulation with mitogens or antigens. In subjects with such preactivated tonsillar lymphocytes, the proliferative responsiveness of blood lymphocytes to mitogen and antigens was markedly increased after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. These observations suggest the existence of in vitro correlates of cellular immunity to bacterial products in the mucosal surfaces. In addition, it is proposed that tonsils may possess immunosuppressive activity for peripheral blood lymphocytes, which may be related to local tonsillar infections.