N-Acetyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester (ATEe) hydrolytic activities of diseased human palatine tonsils. Possible pathogenesis of recurrent acute tonsillitis.

The N-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester (ATEe)-hydrolysing activities of tonsillar extracts in cases of recurrent acute tonsillitis decreased more than those in less severe cases of chronic tonsillitis and in cases of obstructive enlargement of the palatine tonsil. Since ATEe is hydrolysed by C1-esterase, the ATEe hydrolytic activity of the tonsil might be related to the C1-activating system of the tonsil. This indicates that tonsils in which ATEe hydrolytic activities are low, repeatedly and severely, become infected, possibly due to easy invasion of micro-organisms.