TY - JOUR
T1 - Immunohistochemical detection of co-localizing cytokine and antibody producing cells in the extrafollicular area of human palatine tonsils
AU - Hoefakker, S.
AU - Van 't Erve, E. H.M.
AU - Deen, C.
AU - Van Den Eertwegh, A. J.M.
AU - Boersma, W. J.A.
AU - Notten, W. R.F.
AU - Claassen, E.
PY - 1993
Y1 - 1993
N2 - In vitro experiments have documented the role of cytokines in the regulation of the human humoral immune response. Which cytokines are operative in vivo and in which lymphoid compartment interactions between cytokine-producing T cells and antibody-forming B cells occur is still unclear. For that reason we studied human tonsils using immunohistochemical techniques. In tissue sections from tonsils in a resting stage after recurrent tonsillitis we observed cells producing IL-1α and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) which were exclusively localized in the mantle zone of the follicle and in the extrafollicular area. Furthermore, a high frequency of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-producing cells was detected in the extrafollicular area, but not inside the follicles. Occasional IL-2- and IL-4-producing cells were found in the extrafollicular area. Immunohistochemical detection of antibody isotypes revealed that B cells, IgM-membrane-positive, were localized inside the follicles and mantle zones, whereas IgD-membrane-positive cells were mainly found in the mantle zones of secondary follicles. In contrast, plasma cells producing IgG1-4 and IgA1-2 were found in the extrafollicular area. No IgD and IgE antibody-forming cells were detected in tonsils, whereas IgM antibody-forming cells were detected in the extrafollicular area. The co-localization of cytokine-producing cells and antibody-forming cells in human tonsil suggests that T-B cell interactions, required for B cell differentiation and isotype switching, take place in the extrafollicular area.
AB - In vitro experiments have documented the role of cytokines in the regulation of the human humoral immune response. Which cytokines are operative in vivo and in which lymphoid compartment interactions between cytokine-producing T cells and antibody-forming B cells occur is still unclear. For that reason we studied human tonsils using immunohistochemical techniques. In tissue sections from tonsils in a resting stage after recurrent tonsillitis we observed cells producing IL-1α and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) which were exclusively localized in the mantle zone of the follicle and in the extrafollicular area. Furthermore, a high frequency of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-producing cells was detected in the extrafollicular area, but not inside the follicles. Occasional IL-2- and IL-4-producing cells were found in the extrafollicular area. Immunohistochemical detection of antibody isotypes revealed that B cells, IgM-membrane-positive, were localized inside the follicles and mantle zones, whereas IgD-membrane-positive cells were mainly found in the mantle zones of secondary follicles. In contrast, plasma cells producing IgG1-4 and IgA1-2 were found in the extrafollicular area. No IgD and IgE antibody-forming cells were detected in tonsils, whereas IgM antibody-forming cells were detected in the extrafollicular area. The co-localization of cytokine-producing cells and antibody-forming cells in human tonsil suggests that T-B cell interactions, required for B cell differentiation and isotype switching, take place in the extrafollicular area.
KW - antibody-forming cells
KW - cytokine-producing cells
KW - histochemistry
KW - human
KW - in situ
KW - isotype switching
KW - palatine tonsils
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0027203338&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2249.1993.tb07970.x
DO - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2249.1993.tb07970.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 8348748
SN - 0009-9104
VL - 93
SP - 223
EP - 228
JO - Clinical and experimental immunology
JF - Clinical and experimental immunology
IS - 2
ER -