扁桃の免疫学的生化学的側面—その臨床的理解のために

IMMUNOLOGIC AND BIOCHEMICAL ASPECTS OF PALATINE TONSIL

　I．はじめに

　近年免疫学の著しい発展とともに，扁桃を含めた耳鼻咽喉科領域各組織の重要な役割があらためて認識されるようになつてきた。この面を文献的に整理しながら，さらに扁桃の生化学的側面からこれを検討し，あわせて臨床的問題をも考察してみることにした。諸賢のご批判をいただければ幸いである。

　The palatine tonsil of the human being produces each kind of immunoglobulin and has a high biochemical activity of enzyme cathepsin which might have a correlation with the production of these kinds of immunoglobulin. There are many bacteria in the tonsil, and streptococci and staphylococci that activate plasminogen to plasmin predominate in the inflammation.

　On the other hand, the tonsil has an inhibitor against urokinase that is a plasminogen activator. There are both types of the high and low molecular inhibitor in the tonsil. Tonsillectomy often gives the adverse and worse effect to patients with upper respiratory allergic symptoms. These results suggest the important role of the palatine tonsil in the physiology of the human being.