title: Immunocompetent cells in human nasal polyps and normal mucosa.
abstract: The distribution of T- and B-lymphocytes, HLA-DR-expressing cells, and macrophages was determined using monoclonal antibodies in frozen biopsy sections of nasal polyps from 12 patients, and of nasal mucosa from five disease-free controls. The relative proportion and spatial distribution of different lymphoid cells was similar with regards to both nasal polyps and normal mucosa. Numerous scattered T lymphocytes (Leu4-positive) and HLA-DR-expressing macrophage/dendritic-like cells were shown and tended to accumulate in the subepithelial areas. Aggregates of T lymphocytes and HLA-DR-positive cells were also found close to deeper glands. In the submucosal clusters, the Leu3a-positive ("helper/inducer") cells were more common than the Leu2a-positive ("suppressor/cytotoxic") cells. Furthermore, a number of epithelial, non-lymphoid cells were found to express the HLA-DR antigen, which suggests an active role for the epithelium in the immunological response of the normal mucosa as well as that of the nasal polyp.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Uppsala University, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Linder
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karlsson-Parra
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hirvelä
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jonsson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Köling
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sjöberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens