Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pyogenes group A challenge induce a Th1 type of cytokine response in cells obtained from tonsillar hypertrophy and recurrent tonsillitis

• We have previously shown that tonsil tissue both from children with tonsillar hypertrophy and recurrent tonsillitis is colonized and invaded by <i>Haemophilus influenzae </i>and <i>Streptococcus pyogenes </i>group A. In order to evaluate if these bacteria are involved in the immunopathogenesis of these two conditions, tonsillar cells from both groups were stimulated in vitro with intact, heat-inactivated <i>H. influenzae</i> or <i>S. pyogenes</i> A. The immunoreactivity was evaluated by assessing the induction of cytokine production (IL-1α, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-4, TNF-β and IL-10), which was detected at the single-cell level. All cytokines studied except IL-4 were induced in both groups after stimulation with <i>H. influenzae </i>or <i>S. pyogenes </i>A. The dominating cytokines were IL-1β, IFN-γ and TNF-β. No major differences in the cytokine pattern or number of cytokine-producing cells were noticed between the two patient cohorts after <i>H. influenzae </i>stimulation. Activation by <i>S. pyogenes </i>A bacteria gave rise to higher frequencies of IFN-γ- and TNF-β-synthesizing cells in the recurrent tonsillitis group. The incidence of CD4-, CD8-positive T cells and CD40-positive B cells was comparable between the two groups while the MAC-387-positive macrophages were significantly higher in the recurrent tonsillitis groups. In conclusion, a Th₁ type of cytokine response was found in both groups following stimulation with <i>H. influenzae </i>or <i>S. pyogenes </i>A.

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