title: Degranulation of cystic fibrosis nasal polyp mast cells.
abstract: The ultrastructure of nasal polyps from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients was compared with non-CF nasal polyps in this study. Morphometric analysis showed that CF nasal polyps contained greater numbers of mast cells, endothelial cells, lymphocytes, and plasma cells compared with the non-CF specimens. Morphologic evidence of degranulation was seen in approximately 30 per cent of the CF mast cells but was not observed in the non-CF mast cells. Increased numbers of small granules, vacuolated granules, and lipid bodies were noted in the CF compared with the non-CF nasal polyp mast cells. Also observed was a decrease in collagen in the extracellular space of the CF nasal polyps compared with the non-CF specimens. Although eosinophils were observed in the non-CF nasal polyp tissue, these leukocytes were absent in the CF nasal polyps. These data indicate that striking morphologic differences exist between CF and non-CF nasal polyps with mast cell degranulation, a salient feature of CF specimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98195.
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: E Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Chi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015550:Cell Degranulation; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*