Mast cell numbers and staining characteristics in the normal and allergic human conjunctiva

doi:10.1016/0091-6749(91)90221-9

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Volume 87, Issue 1, Part 1, January 1991, Pages 111-116

https://doi.org/10.1016/0091-6749(91)90221-9 Get rights and content

Abstract

In this study we report the numbers and metachromatic dye-staining characteristics of mast cells (MCs) in the conjunctiva of normal subjects and patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis caused by pollenosis. In addition, we have used a monoclonal antibody to the MC-specific enzyme, tryptase, to enumerate tryptase-positive cells immunohistochemically. Tarsal conjunctival MCs were found to be present in increased numbers in the allergic compared to the nonallergic subjects. Most of the MCs exhibited staining that was formaldehyde resistant, compatible with their identification as connective tissue MCs or basophils. The high positive staining for tryptase confirmed that the metachromatic cells stained with toluidine blue were MCs and not basophils, both in normal and allergic subjects.

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^☆: Supported by a Wessex Regional Health Authority Clinical Research Award and grants from the Wessex Medical School Trust and the Iris Fund for the Prevention of Blindness.

^∗: From the Southampton Eye Hospital, Southampton, England.

^∗∗: From the University Department of Pathology, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, England.

¹: Dr. A. F. Walls is a Wellcome Trust Research Fellow.

^∗∗∗: Immnunopharmacology Group, Medicine I, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, England.

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Original articleMast cell numbers and staining characteristics in the normal and allergic human conjunctiva☆

Abstract

Surv Ophthalmol

J Allergy Clin Immunol

J Allergy Clin Immunol

Beitrage zur kenntnis der Anilinfarbungen und ihrer Verwegnung in der mikroskopischen Technik

Arch Mikr Anat

Mast cell heterogeneity: the evolution of the concept of a specific mucosal mast cell

Heterogeneity in mast cell populations

Clin Immunol Rev

Human intestinal mucosal mast cells: evaluation of fixation and staining techniques

J Clin Pathol

Two types of human mast cell that have distinct neutral protease compositions

Human mast cell tryptase: a biochemical marker for mast cell degranulation

Biochem Soc Trans

Tryptase from human pulmonary mast cells: purification and characterisation

J Biol Chem

Generation of C3a anaphylatoxin from human C3 by human mast cell tryptase

J Immunol

Original article
Mast cell numbers and staining characteristics in the normal and allergic human conjunctiva☆