Immunohistochemical investigations of the human palatine tonsil from surgical specimens using polyclonal and monoclonal antikeratin antibodies.

Abstract

The keratinization process of tonsillary epithelium in patients with different age, who underwent surgery because of chronic inflammatory processes, has been studied by employing low (40 KD), medium (52-56-58 KD), high (56-64 and 68 KD) as well as broad spectrum antikeratin antibodies. The findings thus obtained outline the various keratin patterns of the tonsil in the outer covering and, even more, in the crypt labyrinth wall. These findings have been compared with those obtained by histochemical reactions for acid phosphatase and non-specific esterase activities (Favrz et al. 1986 II). In crypt epithelium keratinization, 56-64 KD keratins are involved in cells where also high enzymic activities are taking place, namely 1. in those elements delimiting the lumen as well as in those belonging to the reticulum mesh which are nearest to it and host lymphoid elements active in immunity reactions; 2. in elements at the bottom of small and large crypts, where excavation continues into the lymphoid tissue and interfollicular spaces. 68 KD keratin, although present in lower amounts, is synthesized almost everywhere, but only irregularly. It marks surface epithelium surrounding some dermal papillae, some meshes of the crypt reticulum, the "gallery" bottom as well as elements of interfollicular proliferation developing in the lymphoid tissue like arborescence. The path of congested blood vessels in the crypt wall towards the surface is marked by keratinized epitheliocytes. 56-64 KD keratin is present in the most superficial elements and is generally accompanied by the wall growing thinner, its blistering and breaking. The most frequent pathologic alterations of the epithelium (like cellular hypertrophy) involve variations in cytoplasm keratin pattern, in still un-flattened polyhedral elements of the intermediate layers.