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Systemic immune response to Streptococcal and Staphylococcal lipoteichoic acids in children with recurrent
Y Yokoyama1, Y Harabuchi, H Kodama
1Department of Otolaryngology, Sapporo Medical University, School of Medicine, Japan.
Insights
Children with recurrent tonsillitis may have lower IgG antibody levels to Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus LTA. This suggests a hyposensitivity to LTA may contribute to frequent tonsillitis in young children.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Microbiology
Background:
- Recurrent tonsillitis is a common childhood illness.
- Lipid-protein A (LTA) is a component of Gram-positive bacteria like Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus.
- Antibody responses to bacterial components are crucial for immune defense.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate antibody levels to LTA in children with and without recurrent tonsillitis.
- To explore the correlation between anti-LTA antibody levels and clinical factors like age and tonsillitis episodes.
Main Methods:
- Sera from 110 children were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
- Quantification of IgA, IgG, and IgM antibodies against LTA from S. pyogenes and S. aureus.
- Statistical analysis to determine correlations with age and tonsillitis frequency.
Main Results:
- No IgA antibodies to LTA were detected.
- Significant positive correlation observed between IgG and IgM antibody levels to LTA of both bacterial species.
- Younger children (< 7 years) had significantly lower serum anti-LTA IgG levels compared to older children.
- Lower serum anti-LTA IgG levels inversely correlated with tonsillitis episodes in younger children.
Conclusions:
- Systemic hyposensitivity to LTA in S. pyogenes and S. aureus may be a contributing factor to recurrent tonsillitis in young children.
- Age-dependent differences in IgG antibody levels suggest a developing immune response.
- Further research into LTA-specific immune responses could inform therapeutic strategies.
Abstract:
The antibodies to LTA of Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes) and of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in sera from 110 children with or without recurrent tonsillitis were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The antibody of IgA class was not detected in any sera. There was a significant positive correlation between IgG and IgM antibody levels to LTA of S. pyogenes and those to LTA of S. aureus. There was no significant correlation between anti-LTA IgM antibody and age or episodes of tonsillitis. However, serum anti-LTA IgG levels in younger patients ( < or = 7 y.o.) were significantly lower than those in their elders (>7 y.o.) (anti-S. pyogenes; p = 0.0007, anti-S. aureus; p = 0.007). Serum anti-LTA IgG antibody levels correlated inversely with episodes of tonsillitis in younger patients ( < 7 y.o.) (S. pyogenes: r = -0.362, p = 0.0082, S. aureus: r = -0.276, p = 0.047). These findings suggest that systemic hyposensitivity to LTA of S. pyogenes and S. aureus may be a possible cause of habitualness of tonsillitis in young children.