[Glycosylation profile of selected acute phase proteins in children with chronic tonsillitis and allergic symptoms]. / Glikozylacja bialek ostrej fazy u dzieci z zapaleniem migdalków podniebiennych i objawami alergii.

INTRODUCTION: Acute phase proteins may be regarded as laboratory markers of inflammatory processes of various origin, but they also play several important biological roles. As majority of them are glycoproteins alterations in glycosylations profiles form additional sign of disturbances in the cytokines network during inflammation and allow to distinguish between acute and chronic inflammatory conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A group of 25 children, aged from 6 to 13 years, admitted due to tonsillectomy was examined using skin tests towards specific allergens. Fifteen children out of the whole group showed reaction to pollens, whereas in ten children no allergen was detected despite clear allergic symptoms. In sera samples from every child concentrations of C-reactive protein, alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and alpha1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) were measured using rocket immunoelectrophoresis acc. to Laurell, and glycosylations profiles of AGP and ACT were determined, using crossed affino-immunoelectrophoresis acc. to Bøg-Hansen. RESULTS: Lower concentration of AGP and higher of ACT was shown for children allergic to pollens. Glycosylation profile of both proteins was altered towards higher reactivity with ConA for children allergic to pollens, whereas rather chronic image was observed in children allergic to unknown allergen. The latter image was similar to previously described in children with food allergies. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of allergic reaction may alter the cytokine network activity in children, thus affecting also the immune status, independently from chronic inflammatory process in tonsillitis.

[Monitoring of the inflammation in children before and after tonsillectomy]. / Monitorowanie stanu zapalnego u dzieci przed i po tonsylektomii.

A group of 54 children aged from three to 13 years was qualified to tonsillectomy for laryngological indications. In sera of all children following measurements were performed: the concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and alpha1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) were measured using rocket immunoelectrophoresis according to Laurell, also concentrations of three main immunoglobulin classes (IgA, IgG, IgM) and antistreptolysin titer. The microheterogeneity of both AGP and ACT was investigated, using crossed affinity immunoelectrophoresis according to Bog-Hansen with Concanavalin A (Con A) as a ligand. Results were expressed as reactivity coefficients (RC), being the proportion of all Con A-reacting variants to the non-reacting variant. It is worth mentioning that there was no difference in all investigated parameters as well between groups obtained by categorizing children according to the presence or absence of elevated antistreptolysin titer. It may mean that at least in some cases the chronic inflammation was caused by streptococci non-producing streptolysin O. The results obtained suggest that the absence of the arthritic pain does not exclude the need of antibiotic therapy in children after tonsillectomy. Generally it is postulated that estimation of acute phase proteins concentrations and glycosylation profiles, which were previously shown to be useful in clinical assessment of various diseases may serve as additional marker in laryngology in cases where indications to tonsillectomy are still controversial.