Immunohistological study of infiltrating cells in nasal mucosa and nasal lavage fluid of perennial allergic rhinitis

Abstract

It is well known that EG2-positive cells, CD68-positive cells and other inflammatory cells significantly increase after antigen provocation in the nasal mucosa of an allergic patient. However, there are few reports of the immunohistological study if the infiltrating cells in nasal lavage fluid are not seen. In this study, the infiltrating cells in nasal mucosa as well as in nasal lavage fluid were immunohistologically examined by means of monoclonal antibodies 30 minutes after the antigen provocation. Seven patients with perennial allergic rhinitis were challenged by an antigen disk placed on one side of the inferior turbinates and each nasal cavity was irrigated separately 30 minutes after the antigen provocation. About seven days later, these patients were operated on and the nasal mucosa was removed 30 minutes after the antigen provocation. No marked change in CD4- and CD8 positive cells in the nasal mucosa and lavage fluid was found after provocation. On cytospin glass slides, there was a slight increase in the number of CD68 (P = 0.1), EG2 (P = 0.09), and neutrophil elastase positive (P = 0.2) cells. A significant increase in EG2-positive cells was also seen in the superficial layer of the lamina propria (P < 0.05) but not in the deep layer. CD22 positive cells were not seen on the cytospin glass slide, whereas many positive cells were observed in the deep layer of the lamina propria. These results indicate that EG2-positive cells participate strongly in the early phase of the allergic response after provocation in spite of the absence of significant changes in CD4- and CD8 positive cells. Immunohistological evaluation of nasal lavage is thought to be beneficial concerning the movement of each kind of cells. Each kind of cell is thought to fulfill the main physiological role in the epithelial layer or the lamina propria in early allergic inflammation.