Enzymatic study of Waldeyer’s ring lymphoid tissue: Activity of alkaline and acid phosphatase in palatinal tonsils and adenoids in children with recurrent infection of the ring

Abstract

Activity and kinetic properties of tissue nonspecific alkaline phopsphatase and acid phosphatase were investigated in adenoids and tonsils of 62 children tonsiloadenoidectomised because of recurrent infection using p-nitrophenylphosphate as a substrate. Kinetic properties were calculated by the method of Levenberg-Marquardt. The mean value of tonsil TNAP activity was 3.525 U/mg of protein versus 7.280 U/ mg of protein in adenoids (t = 5.928, df = 60, p < 0.01). ACP activity was also significantly lower in tonsils (10.844 U/mg of protein) than in adenoids (13.059 U/mg of protein) (t = 11.318, df = 60, p < 0.01). There were no influence of age and sex to both enzyme activities. TNAP activity was significantly higher in hypertrophic (4.132 U/mg of protein) than in atrophic (2.531 U/mg of protein) (t = 2.361, df = 20, p < 0.05). Tonsillar TNAP was more effective than adenoid TNAP (t = 11.769, df = 60, p < 0.01). Results suggest the possibility that recurrent infection influences the tonsils more than adenoids and age. Hypertrophy could be an adaptive mechanism of palatinal tonsils during the infection.