Background: The role of inflammatory cells at the local site of allergic inflammation in the nose is unclear.
Methods: Nasal biopsy specimens were obtained from 10 patients with symptomatic seasonal allergic rhinitis and 10 normal subjects. Freeze-dried paraffin-embedded sections were stained for mononuclear cells and eosinophils. Tissues in Carnoy's fixative were stained for mast cells.
Results: T cells were much more plentiful than B cells or macrophages, and no significant differences were found between the two groups in the number of T cells, T-cell subsets, B cells, and macrophages. However, the number of CD25+ cells (lymphocyte activation markers) and the number of eosinophils were significantly higher in the allergic group than in the control group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the total mast cell number. However, mucosal type mast cells were slightly increased, and a higher ratio of mast cells were costained for IgE in the allergic group. IgE+ cells mostly constained for mast cell tryptase and did not costain for J chain.
Conclusions: These data suggest that unlike granulocytes, in some mononuclear cells qualitative, not quantitative, changes may be important in allergic rhinitis and that IgE may not be locally produced in the nasal mucosa.