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Isolation of Tonsillar Mononuclear Cells to Study Ex Vivo Innate Immune Responses in a Human Mucosal Lymphoid Tissue
Published on: June 14, 2020
Identification and immunolocalization of the innate immune receptor CD14 in hypertrophic adenoids and tonsils
Avraham Ben-Yaakov1, Bella Maly, Rani Abu-Ita
1Department of Otolaryngology / Head & Neck Surgery, Hadassah Hebrew-University Medical Center, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
Insights
CD14, a marker of innate immunity, is overexpressed in hypertrophic adenoids and tonsils of children with obstructive sleep apnea. This enhanced CD14 expression may contribute to airway enlargement and persistent hypertrophy.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is a common cause of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
- The role of innate immunity in the pathogenesis of adenotonsillar hypertrophy is not fully understood.
- CD14 is a key receptor involved in innate immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of CD14 in hypertrophic adenoids and tonsils in pediatric patients with OSA.
- To evaluate CD14 as a potential marker of innate immunity in these tissues.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was used to assess CD14 expression in adenoid and tonsil tissues from 24 pediatric patients with OSA.
- Specific histologic areas, including mucosal and submucosal layers, were analyzed.
- CD14 immunoreactivity was quantified and compared between tonsils and adenoids.
Main Results:
- CD14 expression was found in intraepithelial lymphocytes in the basal layer of the tonsil's stratified squamous mucoepithelium.
- Tonsils showed significantly higher CD14 expression in mucosal and inter-follicular areas compared to adenoids.
- Adenoids exhibited significantly higher CD14 expression in submucosal layers than tonsils.
Conclusions:
- Hypertrophic adenoids and tonsils in children with OSA are sites of significant innate immune defense, characterized by CD14 overexpression.
- Enhanced CD14 expression may play a role in the development and persistence of adenotonsillar enlargement causing OSA.
- CD14 expression highlights the immunological sentinel function of innate immunity in the upper airway.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study is to determine the expression of CD14 as a marker of the innate immunity in hypertrophic adenoids and tonsils. Twenty-four pediatric patients (age <12 years) with obstructive adenotonsillar hypertrophy, confirmed by sleep study were included in this study. Intensity and expression of positive CD14 infiltrating cells was assessed by immunohistochemistry in specific histologic areas. In tonsils, CD14 immunoreactivity was demonstrated in intraepithelial lymphocytes located in the basal layer of the stratified squamous mucoepithelium. CD14 expression was significantly higher in mucosal layers and inter-follicular areas of tonsils than adenoid tissues [(p < 0.001), (p = 0.021), respectively]. CD14 expression was significantly higher in the submucosal layers of adenoids than tonsil tissues (p = 0.002). Hypertrophic adenoids and tonsils from children with OSA are prominent sites of innate defense, with over expression of CD14. The enhanced expressions of CD14 cells in adenoids and tonsils may be an important factor for the development and persistence of adenoids and tonsils enlargement causing OSA in children. CD14 expression in adenoids and tonsils illustrates an important immunological sentinel function of the innate immunity of the upper airway.
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