Human mast cell subtypes in conjunctiva of patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis, ocular cicatricial pemphigoid and Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Investigate mast cell (MC(S)) subtypes in atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC), ocular cicatrical pemphigoid (OCP), and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS).


METHODS
MC(S) subtypes were determined by immunohistochemistry of conjunctiva (obtained from 34 patients--9 AKC, 9 OCP, 9 SJS and 7 normal) using monoclonal antibodies directed against chymase (MC(C)) and tryptase (MC(T)). Double staining was used to distinguish MC(S) as positive for both chymase and tryptase (MC(TC)).


RESULTS
The number of MC(S) was significantly increased in AKC, OCP and SJS patients, compared to normal subjects. MC( C) were especially high in AKC, and moderately high in OCP. MC(T ) and MC(TC) were similar in each disease group.


CONCLUSIONS
While the AKC findings were not surprising, the result in OCP and SJS suggests that MC(S) play an underappreciated role in the inflammatory process of these disorders. Disparate proportions of MC(S) subtypes in these diseases may imply differential functions of MC(S) in these disorders.
Yao
Lijing
L
Immunology and Uveitis Service and Hilles Immunology Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Baltatzis
Stefanos
S
Zafirakis
Panayotis
P
Livir-Rallatos
Charalampos
C
Voudouri
Adamantia
A
Markomichelakis
Nikos
N
Zhao
Tongzhen
T
Foster
C Stephen
CS
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D053818:Chymases; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology*; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010390:Pemphigoid, Benign Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology*; D010641:Phenotype; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D053802:Tryptases
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D053818:Chymases; D053802:Tryptases