Cellular senescence in recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy in children

Objective: To observe the difference in cellular senescence patterns between recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy. Methods and materials: Forty-three patients diagnosed with recurrent tonsillitis or tonsillar hypertrophy, based on medical history and symptoms, underwent tonsillectomy. The specimens were collected and examined using senescence beta-galactosidase staining for cellular senescence. Macrophages were detected by immunochemistry. Results: Cellular senescence was found in both recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy groups. The comparison of cellular senescence in microcompartments of tonsil tissue (germinal centre, mantle zone, sub-epithelial and intraepithelial) revealed a significant increase of senescent cells in germinal centres in tonsillar hypertrophy compared with that in tonsillar hypertrophy. The majority of senescent cells in both groups were CD68-positive. Conclusions: Different cellular senescence patterns were found between the two studied paediatric tonsillar diseases. Macrophage senescence may play a role in the pathogenesis of these diseases.