Implication of Apoptosis in the Immune Response of Tonsillar Lymphocytes

The term apoptosis stands for a mechanism of controlled cell deletion which maintains the homeostasis of living bodies. In palatine tonsil, apoptosis seems to be mainly observed in lymphocytes which have accomplished their immunological role. In this study, we demonstrate the presence of apoptotic cells in palatine tonsil using a histochemical technique, and we compare the number of apoptotic cells in inflammatory and non-inflammatory conditions using an image analyzing system. In the mantle zone, fewer apoptotic cells were observed than in the germinal center. Under inflammatory conditions, apoptotic cells were increased in the interfollicular space. Apoptosis may play an important role in the immunological equilibrium of tonsils by eliminating hyperreactive clones.