Immunohistology of the nasal mucosa in seasonal allergic rhinitis: Increases in activated eosinophils and epithelial mast cells

The immunohistology of the nasal mucosa was examined in 13 grass pollen-sensitive patients and in seven normal nonatopic control subjects before and during the pollen season.Cryostut sections (6 km) of biopsy specimens from the inferior turbinate were immunostained with the alkaline-phosphatase antialkaline-phosphatase method and a panel of monoclonal antibodies.Mast cell subtypes were measured with a double sequential immunostaining method.Within the submucosa, seasonal increases in total (MBP', p < 0.01) and "activated" (EG2-, p < 0.01) eosinophils were observed for the patients, which were significant when these counts were compared with counts for those of control subjects (MBP' p < 0.01; EG2' p < 0.001).Within the nasal epithelium, seasonal increases in total (p < 0.05) and "activated" (p < 0.02) eosinophils were also observed.Mast cell counts revealed seasonal increases in tryptase-only positive mast cell (MC=) (p < 0.02) but not chymase plus tryptase-positive mast cells (MC.,(-) waithin the epithelium that were significant when counts were compared with those of control subjects (p < 0.03).No significant changes were observed within the submucosa or epithelium .fortotal leukocytes (CD45' cells) or T-lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+, CD8'.and CD 2.5" cells) ,for either group.Similarly, no sign&ant changes were observed for neutrophils (antielastase), macrophages (CD68+), nor HLA-DR' cells.In the subjects with rhinitis, seasonal submucosul CD3' counts correlated with MBP' eosinophils (r = 0.56; p < 0.05) and M&s (r = 0.65; p < 0.02).Similarly, seasonal epithelial EG2 + eosinophil counts correlated with MC, s (r = 0.56; p < 0.05).The results indicate that seasonal allergic rhinitis is associated with local accumulation of "activated" eosinophils and the epithelial migration of MC,-s but not MC,s during natural grass-pollen exposure.(J AUERGY CLIN IMMUNOI.