Immunohistological studies on tonsils with recurrent tonsillitis and focus-tonsil with pustulosis palmaris et plantaris.

By use of monoclonal antibodies and anti-immunoglobulin antibodies, the distributions of 15 adult tonsils with recurrent inflammation and palmoplantar pustulosis as focus-tonsil were investigated. The avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) method was utilized throughout the experiment. Monoclonal antibodies of the Leu and OKT series revealed the location of T and B cell subsets characteristic in the tonsils with chronic inflammation and the focus tonsils with pustulosis palmaris et plantaris (PPP). In vitro sensitization of tonsil tissues was performed with crude antigen from tonsillar epithelium. Tonsil tissues with PPP demonstrated a significant increase in S-IgD-bearing lymphocytes and esterase-positive cells in the mantle zones of follicles, although the tissues of recurrent tonsillitis showed no such effects. It was speculated that tonsils with focal infections are usually standby for the production of antibodies against tonsillar epithelial antigens.