Differentiated S100A7 expression in infected tonsils and tonsils from allergic individuals

Palatine tonsils are continuously exposed to microorganisms and antigens and secrete antimicrobial peptides as a first line of defense. S100A7 is a protein with antimicrobial and chemotactic properties. Our aim was to investigate how the expression of S100A7 in human palatine tonsils is affected by inflammatory processes. Tonsils obtained from 109 patients undergoing tonsillectomy were divided into groups of infected and noninfected as well as allergic and nonallergic, based on the results from tonsillar core culture tests and Phadiatop analysis, respectively. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to assess protein expression and real-time PCR was used to quantify mRNA levels. To explore the induction of S100A7, tonsils were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide in vitro. The immunohistochemical staining for S100A7 was most intense in the tonsillar epithelium, but the protein was also detected in B- and T-cell regions, which was confirmed with Western blot on isolated B and T cells. The S100A7 expression appeared to be the highest in CD8+ T cells. Reduced mRNA levels of S100A7 were detected in infected tonsils as well as in tonsils from allergic individuals. In vitro stimulation of tonsils with lipopolysaccharide did not have any effect on the expression. The results suggest a role for S100A7 in recurrent tonsillitis and allergic disease.