PEDIATR. ALLERGY IMMUNOL. 6/1 (1995) 48-55

Changes in the concentration and distribution of immunoglobulin-producing cells in SIDS palatine tonsils

Stoltenberg L., Vege A., Saugstad O.D., Rognum T.O.

Department of Pediatric Research, National Hospital, N-0027 Oslo, Norway

Abstract
Seventeen sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) cases and 9 controls, were examined immunohistochemically with regard to the presence of IgA-, IgM-, IgD, and IgG, as well as for the subtypes IgG1-, IgG2-, IgC3-, and IgG4-immunocytes, Differences in compartmentalization were also investigated. Differences were demonstrated between SIDS and controls in total number of IgG cells per 0.1 mm² tissue area (median: 18.3, range: 12.3-30.2 versus median: 6.3, range: 2.0-14.6) (p < 0.01), and for IgA immunocytes (median: 3.9, range: 2.4-5.0 versus median: 1.5, range: 1.1-3.7) (p < 0.05), while no differences were demonstrated for IgM cells (median: 1.8, range: 1.2-3.3 versus median: 1.8, range: 0.7-5.6) or IgD cells (median: 1.9, range: 0.8-2.9 versus median: 1.6, range: 0.7-2.4). Differences were demonstrated between SIDS and control IgG plasma cells in all the four palatine tonsillar compartments; germinal centre (p < 0.01), mantle zone (p < 0.05), interfollicular area (p < 0.01) and reticular epithelium (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the number of IgA cells was higher in SIDS vs. controls in both the germinal centre (median: 1.4, range: 0.6-2.1 versus median: 0.6, range: 0.3-1.3) (p < 0.05) and in the interfollicular area (median: 2.2, range: 1.1-3.1 versus median: 0.5, range: 0.4-2.0) (p < 0.01). For IgM immunocytes, differences were demonstrated in the germinal centre (median: 1.0, range: 0.4-1.6 versus median: 0.4, range: 0.3-1.3) (p < 0.01) as well as in the germinal centre (median: 0.6, range: 0.5-0.8 versus median: 0.4, range: 0.3-0.7) (p < 0.01) and in the interfollicular area (median: 1.2, range: 0.8-1.6 versus median: 0.5, range: 0.5-0.7) (p < 0.01) in the IgD immunocyte group. The total number of IgG1- and IgG3-immunocytes were increased in SIDS (median 15.6, range: 5.3-58.9 versus median: 2.5, range: 1.5-8.4) (p < 0.01) and (median: 3, 6, range: 0.4-8.6 versus median: 1.1, range: 0.4-1.3) (p < 0.01) respectively. Furthermore, significantly increased numbers of these two subclasses, were seen in all the four compartments in the SIDS cases. The palatine tonsillar immune system is stimulated in SIDS. Furthermore, the changes being predominantly in the germinal centres and interfollicular areas, are indicating a recent stimulation, and the IgG-subgroup response pattern makes a viral protein antigen the most likely stimulant.

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