Abstract
The proportion of various immunocompetent cells, i. e., Ig-positive cells, T cell subsets and the amount of secretory component, in the palatine tonsils and pharyngeal tonsils from patients with chronic sinusitis were investigated by image analysis. The increasing in number of IgM-and CD 4-positive cells suggested the activation of the local immune responses. The tonsils, which are the first lymphatic organ contacting foreign antigens, might protect the upper respiratory tract (URT) infections and become the principal source of immunocomponent cells. While at the same time, the increasing in number of IgD positive cells and the decreasing of the amount of secretory component were revealed. They suggested that the local immune responses were suppressed in a certain extent which lead the prolongation of inflammation. These results suggest that the local immune responses of the URT are closely involved in the pathogenesis of sinusitis.
