Introduction. The immune function of the palatine tonsils is associated with a constant proliferation of lymphocytes, therefore, the indicators of proliferation, apoptosis and anti-apoptotic activity in the palatine tonsils are quite informative for assessing their functional state and contribution to adaptive immunity. Chronic inflammation in the palatine tonsils affects their functional state. Understanding the immunocompetence of the palatine tonsils at different stages of the course of chronic tonsillitis allows the optimal tactics of treating this disease, including timely tonsillectomy.Objective. Based on the results of research and literature sources, to find a comparative characteristic of the contribution of palatine tonsils to adequate immunity, ways to assess their proliferative and anti-apoptotic activity.Materials and methods. The study included 158 patients with various forms of chronic tonsillitis and 8 patients without signs of chronic tonsillitis, who were divided into 4 study groups, in accordance with the clinical classification of chronic tonsillitis according to B.S. Preobrazhensky and V.T. Palchun. The tissue samples of the palatine tonsils obtained from patients were examined immunohistochemically in an automatic mode using markers of Ki67 proliferation and Bcl2 antiapoptosis.Results. When conducting an immunohistochemical study with markers of proliferation and anti-apoptosis, an increase in the proliferative and anti-apoptotic activity of lymphoid tissue cells in chronic tonsillitis of a simple form was revealed, and a significant decrease in these indicators in chronic tonsillitis of toxic-allergic forms of I and II stage.Conclusions. Data were obtained on the planned tonsillectomy in chronic tonsillitis of the toxic-allergic form of II degree, as well as in case of ineffectiveness of conservative therapy of tonsillitis of toxic-allergic form of I degree.
