Expression of CD3 and CD20 in Antistreptolysin-O Titer Seropositive and Seronegative Children with Chronic Tonsillitis

Abeer A K Mohamed; Fahd A Alharbi; Sahar Khalil

doi:10.4103/jmau.jmau_80_20

Expression of CD3 and CD20 in Antistreptolysin-O Titer Seropositive and Seronegative Children with Chronic Tonsillitis

J Microsc Ultrastruct. 2021 Mar 22;10(2):85-89. doi: 10.4103/jmau.jmau_80_20. eCollection 2022 Apr-Jun.

Authors

Abeer A K Mohamed^{1

2}, Fahd A Alharbi³, Sahar Khalil^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
² Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Science, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background: Chronic tonsillitis (CT) is a common inflammatory illness in children, and serum antistreptolysin O titer (ASOT) is a common investigation performed for these cases and considered a perfect sign for tonsillectomy.

Objective: To evaluate the expression of tonsillar T-and B-lymphocytes markers in relation to seropositive or seronegative ASOT in cases of CT.

Materials and methods: Thirty children (15 males and 15 females) aged 6-10 years were divided equally into two groups: Group A seropositive ASOT (≥400 IU) and Group B seronegative ASOT (<400 IU). Both performed bilateral tonsillectomy. Specimens from the removed tonsils were taken and prepared for light microscopic examination and immunohistochemical evaluation of CD20 and CD3 expression.

Results: Seropositive ASOT group showed significant histopathologic changes in the form of hyperplasia of the stratified squamous nonkeratinized epithelium, Urgas's abscess, and severe lymphocytic infiltration. Immunohistochemical results of seropositive ASOT group showed marked expression of CD3 and CD20, while seronegative ASOT group showed mild expression of CD3 and CD20.

Conclusion: Seropositive ASOT CT, in addition to histopathological changes, is associated with significant increase in both B-lymphocytes (CD20 expression) and T-lymphocytes (CD3 expression) markers.

Keywords: Antistreptolysin-O titer; CD20; CD3; chronic tonsillitis; immunohistochemistry; tonsillectomy.