Cellular senescence in recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy in children.

OBJECTIVE

To observe the difference in cellular senescence patterns between recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: Forty-three patients diagnosed with recurrent tonsillitis or tonsillar hypertrophy, based on medical history and symptoms, underwent tonsillectomy. The specimens were collected and examined using senescence β-galactosidase staining for cellular senescence. Macrophages were detected by immunochemistry.

RESULTS

Cellular senescence was found in both recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy groups. The comparison of cellular senescence in microcompartments of tonsil tissue (germinal centre, mantle zone, subepithelial and intraepithelial) revealed a significant increase of senescent cells in germinal centres in tonsillar hypertrophy compared with that in tonsillar hypertrophy. The majority of senescent cells in both groups were CD68-positive.

CONCLUSIONS

Different cellular senescence patterns were found between the two studied paediatric tonsillar diseases. Macrophage senescence may play a role in the pathogenesis of these diseases.