Neurotrophins and their receptors in human lingual tonsil: an immunohistochemical analysis

  • Authors:
    • Marco Artico
    • Elena Bronzetti
    • Laura M. Felici
    • Valentina Alicino
    • Brunella Ionta
    • Benedetto Bronzetti
    • Giuseppe Magliulo
    • Claudia Grande
    • Loris Zamai
    • Guido Pasquantonio
    • Marco De Vincentiis
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: November 1, 2008     https://doi.org/10.3892/or_00000130
  • Pages: 1201-1206
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Abstract

Lymphoid organs are supplied by many nerve endings associated with different kinds of cells and macrophages. The role of this innervation on the release of locally active molecules is still unclear. Lingual tonsils belong to Waldeyer's Ring, in close association with palatine tonsils and nasopharyngeal (adenoids) tonsils, thus constituting part of NALT (nasal-associated lymphoid tissue) together with the tubal tonsils and lateral pharyngeal bands. In this study, we focused our attention on the expression of some neurotrophins (NTs) and their high- and low-affinity receptors in human lingual tonsils. Light immunohistochemistry showed that human tonsillar samples were generally positive for all the NTs investigated (NGF, BDNF, NT-3, NT-4) and their receptors (TrKA, TrKB, TrKC and p75) with some different expression levels. NGF and TrKC were strongly expressed in macrophages, but weakly in lymphocytes. However, BDNF and TrKB was highly expressed in lymphocytes and weaker in macrophages. The low-affinity receptor for NGF, p75, was mainly moderately expressed in the analysed samples. These results suggest the presence of a pattern of neurotrophin innervation in the human lingual tonsil which may play a role in sustaining inflammatory conditions and in modulating a close interaction between the nervous system and the different immune cellular subtypes.

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November 2008
Volume 20 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Spandidos Publications style
Artico M, Bronzetti E, Felici LM, Alicino V, Ionta B, Bronzetti B, Magliulo G, Grande C, Zamai L, Pasquantonio G, Pasquantonio G, et al: Neurotrophins and their receptors in human lingual tonsil: an immunohistochemical analysis. Oncol Rep 20: 1201-1206, 2008
APA
Artico, M., Bronzetti, E., Felici, L.M., Alicino, V., Ionta, B., Bronzetti, B. ... De Vincentiis, M. (2008). Neurotrophins and their receptors in human lingual tonsil: an immunohistochemical analysis. Oncology Reports, 20, 1201-1206. https://doi.org/10.3892/or_00000130
MLA
Artico, M., Bronzetti, E., Felici, L. M., Alicino, V., Ionta, B., Bronzetti, B., Magliulo, G., Grande, C., Zamai, L., Pasquantonio, G., De Vincentiis, M."Neurotrophins and their receptors in human lingual tonsil: an immunohistochemical analysis". Oncology Reports 20.5 (2008): 1201-1206.
Chicago
Artico, M., Bronzetti, E., Felici, L. M., Alicino, V., Ionta, B., Bronzetti, B., Magliulo, G., Grande, C., Zamai, L., Pasquantonio, G., De Vincentiis, M."Neurotrophins and their receptors in human lingual tonsil: an immunohistochemical analysis". Oncology Reports 20, no. 5 (2008): 1201-1206. https://doi.org/10.3892/or_00000130