Mucosal Immunology of the Upper Respiratory Tract

Bernstein, Joel

doi:10.1159/000196123

Cited by 49 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…This is especially emphasized by the prominent role of mucosal colonization with commensal bacteria, which essentially contribute to the efficacy of the mechanistic and immunological barrier function conveyed by the nasal mucosa. 22 Higher frequencies of nasal S. aureus colonization rates might also be facilitated, at least partly, by the severely impaired ciliary beat frequency of the airway epithelia in WG, thus leading to disturbed mechanical barrier function as has been recently demonstrated by our group. 23 Taken together, microbial challenge, particularly S. aureus colonization of the nasal mucosa, is widely discussed to represent the exogenous trigger for WG or at least a major component in disease etiology.…”

Section: Articlesmentioning

confidence: 56%

Molecular signatures of a disturbed nasal barrier function in the primary tissue of Wegener's granulomatosis

et al. 2011

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Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a complex autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, frequently involving localized inflammation of the nasal mucosa as an early manifestation. The current hypothesis suggests that the disease is triggered by a disturbed interaction between genetic and environmental effects, such as an altered microflora at mucosal layers. In this study, a systematic assessment of 49 transcripts with potential pathophysiological relevance was performed using quantitative real-time PCR in nasal mucosa samples of more than 80 individuals, including normal control (NC) individuals and disease controls. In addition, colonization with Staphylococcus aureus was quantified in the same individuals to assess its impact on transcriptomic signatures. Transcription profiles show an increased heterogeneity in diseased individuals. In all, 10 transcripts were identified to be differentially expressed (P≤0.05, false discovery rate ≤0.05) between patients with WG and NC individuals. These transcripts include antimicrobial peptides (human β-defensin (DEFB)1: fold-change WG vs. controls: +4.45, lysozyme: -3.4, DEFB4 and S100A7 (S100 calcium-binding protein A7): both "switched on" in WG), innate immune receptors (Toll-like receptor 4: -2.1, NOD-like receptor C3: -2.1, scavenger receptor CD36: +2.9), and cytokines (interferon-γ: -14, transforming growth factor-β 1: -1.4, interleukin-17D: -2.7). These transcriptional profiles are independent of S. aureus colonization. This study for the first time describes that, on the basis of data obtained from the primary nasal tissue, WG exhibits molecular features that allow its differentiation from other inflammatory disorders with involvement of the nasal mucosa. Further studies based on these findings may enable the identification of subphenotypes, which are currently discussed as an important target for a personalized medicine approach, aiming to reduce side effects and the number of therapy non-responders.

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Section: Articlesmentioning

confidence: 56%

Molecular signatures of a disturbed nasal barrier function in the primary tissue of Wegener's granulomatosis

et al. 2011

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“…The major function of tonsils is as a first line of defense against viral, bacterial, and food antigens that enter the upper aerodigestive system. Secretory dimeric IgA produced by B cells has particular hydrophilic properties and is capable of preventing adsorption and penetration of bacteria and/or viruses into the upper respiratory tract mucosa [28]. With the uptake of antigen by microfold cells (membrane cell, M cells) present in the cryptepithelium a process is initiated, which ultimately results in the generation and dissemination of antigen-specific memory and mainly dimeric IgA-producing effector B lymphocytes.…”

Section: Functions Of Tonsilsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between tonsils and IgA nephropathy as well as indications of tonsillectomy

Xie

Chen

Nishi

et al. 2004

Kidney International

108

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Although there are many papers about IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and tonsils, respectively, reviews about the relationship between tonsils, tonsillitis, tonsillectomy, and IgAN are limited. In this review, we introduced the structure, development, and function of tonsils, difference of tonsils with and without IgAN, consistency of both tonsillar IgA and glomerular IgA, the effect of tonsil stimulation, tonsil infection, and tonsillectomy on IgAN showed some evidences in which tonsils were closely related to IgAN and polymeric IgA1 deposited in glomerular mesangium were at least in part of tonsillar origin. Tonsillectomy can improve the urinary findings, keep stable renal function, improve mesangial proliferation and IgA deposit, have a favorable effect on long-tern renal survival in some IgAN patients, and do not cause significant immune deficiency and do not increase incidence of the upper respiratory tract infections, and can be used as a potentially effective treatment. The indications of tonsillectomy in patients with IgAN include mainly the deterioration of urinary findings after tonsillar infection, mild or moderate renal damage. However, tonsillectomy may not be enough and may not change the prognosis in IgAN patients with marked renal damage.

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“…In the upper aerodigestive tract, Waldeyer's ring serves this function. Specifically, tonsillar tissue is involved with antigen processing and is concerned with both local immunity and immune surveillance 5,6 …”

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confidence: 99%

Helicobacter pylori and tonsillectomy

Skinner¹,

Winter²,

Curran³

et al. 2001

Clin Otolaryngol

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Tonsillar tissue is a component of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), which has evolved to protect vulnerable mucosal surfaces. Helicobacter pylori, implicated as an aetiological factor in duodenal ulcers and gastritis, induces the appearance of lymphoid aggregates (MALT) in the stomach. This organism is cytotoxic via a nitric oxide synthase cascade. The possibility that tonsillar tissue processes Helicobacter pylori or that Helicobacter pylori can colonize the palatine tonsils is explored. The study design was that of a prospective study. We determined if Helicobacter pylori (i) forms part of the normal microenvironment of the tonsil, (ii) plays a role in the pathogenesis of tonsillitis and (iii) is associated with increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in macrophages of the tonsil. Serology for Helicobacter pylori was performed on 50 patients undergoing tonsillectomy. Tonsillar specimens were monitored for urease activity by CLO test (a sealed plastic slide holding an agar gel, which contains urea and detects the urease enzyme of Helicobacter pylori), and immunocytochemically probed for Helicobacter pylori and iNOS expression. The mean age of this patient group was 17.2 years (3-36 years). Fourteen (28%) were sero-positive for Helicobacter pylori but no evidence of this pathogen was found in any tonsillar specimen. The number of macrophages staining for iNOS, per field, under a magnification of x40, was increased in sero-positive patients (13.3 +/- 1.3 versus 9.9 +/- 0.7; P = 0.01). Helicobacter pylori does not appear to colonize the tonsil. We believe that Helicobacter pylori primes the tonsils by inducing macrophage iNOS expression. The higher expression in sero-positive patients is a reflection of a pro-inflammatory reaction to Helicobacter pylori that is both local and systemic.

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Mucosal Immunology of the Upper Respiratory Tract

Cited by 49 publications

References 10 publications

Molecular signatures of a disturbed nasal barrier function in the primary tissue of Wegener's granulomatosis

Molecular signatures of a disturbed nasal barrier function in the primary tissue of Wegener's granulomatosis

Relationship between tonsils and IgA nephropathy as well as indications of tonsillectomy

Helicobacter pylori and tonsillectomy

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