title: Analysis of mast cell subpopulations (MCT, MCTC) in cutaneous inflammation using novel enzyme-histochemical staining techniques.
abstract: In order to gain insights into the dynamics of mast cell subpopulations in normal and diseased skin, a novel enzyme-histochemical double and triple staining method was employed that allowed the detection of metachromasia (toluidine blue) and the mast cell proteases tryptase and chymase within the same cell. Cryostat sections were used of skin biopsies from the following specimens: normal skin (N = 4), psoriasis (N = 13), atopic eczema (N = 7), lichen planus (N = 6), interferon alpha 2a injection sites (N = 1) of a leukemic infiltrate and corresponding normal skin of the same patient before and after treatment. (i) Equal numbers of tryptase- and chymase-positive mast cells (MCTC) were obtained in all normal and diseased specimens in papillary and reticular dermis, with threefold increases around appendages. (ii) Tryptase-positive mast cells (MCT) were absent in normal skin, but were markedly increased in a disease-specific pattern within the papillary dermis, the inflammatory infiltrate and around appendages. (iii) Marked increases of MCT were also noted at interferon injection sites within the leukemic infiltrate, but not in the normal skin of the same patient. These data suggest that disease-dependent mast cell dynamics involve only MCT in cutaneous inflammation and that MCT numbers are controlled by distinct, disease-specific local tissue factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Clinics Rudolf Virchow, FU Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Algermissen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schadendorf
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kropp
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Czarnetzki
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D053818:Chymases; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D003979:Diazonium Compounds; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D017254:Leukemic Infiltration; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000032:analysis*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D014048:Tolonium Chloride; D053802:Tryptases; D009762:o-Aminoazotoluene
chemical_list: D003979:Diazonium Compounds; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C016446:Fast Blue BB; D014048:Tolonium Chloride; C056237:Fast Black K Salt; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C083294:chymase 2; D053818:Chymases; D053802:Tryptases; D009762:o-Aminoazotoluene