The palatine tonsils are constantly exposed to ingested or inhaled antigens which, in turn, lead to a permanent activation of tonsillar immune cells, even in a basic physiological state. The aim of the present study was to investigate if the immunological activation of the human palatine tonsil is reflected by a high metabolic activity, as determined by in vivo measurement of protein synthesis. The protein synthesis rate of the tonsil was also compared with that of the circulating T-lymphocytes, the total blood mononuclear cells and the whole population of blood leucocytes. Phenotypic characterization of immune-competent cells in tonsil tissue and blood was performed by flow cytometry. Pinch tonsil biopsies were taken after induction of anaesthesia in healthy adult patients (n=12) scheduled for ear surgery, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or nose surgery. Protein synthesis was quantitatively determined during a 90-min period by a flooding-dose technique. The in vivo protein synthesis rate in the palatine tonsils was 22.8±5.7%/24 h (mean±S.D.), whereas protein synthesis in the circulating T-lymphocytes was 10.7±3.4%/24 h, in mononuclear cells was 10.8±2.8%/24 h and in leucocytes was 3.2±1.2%/24 h. CD3+ lymphocytes were the most abundant cell population in the tonsil. The in vivo protein synthesis rate in human tonsils was higher compared with the circulating immune cells. This high metabolic rate may reflect the permanent immunological activity present in human tonsils, although cell phenotypes and activity markers do not explain the differences.
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February 2005
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Research Article|
January 21 2005
Determination of in vivo protein synthesis in human palatine tonsil
Anna JANUSZKIEWICZ;
*Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Karolinska University Hospital at Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 141 86, Sweden
Correspondence: Dr Anna Januszkiewicz (email [email protected]).
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Maria KLAUDE;
Maria KLAUDE
*Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Karolinska University Hospital at Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 141 86, Sweden
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Karin LORÉ;
Karin LORÉ
†Department of Medicine, Center for Infectious Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital at Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 141 86, Sweden
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Jan ANDERSSON;
Jan ANDERSSON
†Department of Medicine, Center for Infectious Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital at Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 141 86, Sweden
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Olle RINGDÉN;
Olle RINGDÉN
‡Department of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska University Hospital at Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm S141 86, Sweden
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Olav ROOYACKERS;
Olav ROOYACKERS
*Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Karolinska University Hospital at Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 141 86, Sweden
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Jan WERNERMAN
Jan WERNERMAN
*Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Karolinska University Hospital at Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 141 86, Sweden
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
September 09 2004
Revision Received:
October 26 2004
Accepted:
November 09 2004
Accepted Manuscript online:
November 09 2004
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
The Biochemical Society
2005
Clin Sci (Lond) (2005) 108 (2): 179–184.
Article history
Received:
September 09 2004
Revision Received:
October 26 2004
Accepted:
November 09 2004
Accepted Manuscript online:
November 09 2004
Citation
Anna JANUSZKIEWICZ, Maria KLAUDE, Karin LORÉ, Jan ANDERSSON, Olle RINGDÉN, Olav ROOYACKERS, Jan WERNERMAN; Determination of in vivo protein synthesis in human palatine tonsil. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 February 2005; 108 (2): 179–184. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20040271
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