Nasal polyp is a chronic inflammatory disease of the upper airways often associated with other respiratory disorders such as allergic rhinitis, sinusitis and asthma. Mast cell may be classified immunohistochemically by their protease contents and
ultrastructually distinguished by granule morphology as MCT and MCTC.
To investigate the distribution of mast cell subtypes in the nasal polyp, middle turbinate and inferior turbinate, We employed immunohistochemical double staining using mouse monoclonal antichymase antibodies and mouse monoclonal antitryptase
antibodies. Nasal polyp, middle turbinate and inferior turbinate mucosa were obtained from 10 patients with chronic sinusitis associated with nasal polyp. Each tissues were fixed in Carnoy's solution and embedded in OCT. Mast cells were stained
sequentially for biotin conjugated antichymase and alkaline phosphatase conjugated antitryptase.
In nasal polyp, MCT were predominant in epithelium and MCTC were predominant in stroma. In turbinate mucosa, MCT were predominant in epithelium and MCTC were predominant in stroma. Total number of mast cells and especially MCT in nasal polyp were
more
numerous than in turbinate mucosa.
In conclusion, mast cells, especially MCT, increased at epithelium and stroma in nasal polyps and mav be a critical factor of pathogenesis in formation and growth of nasal polyp. (Korean J Otolaryngo1 39 : 7, 1996)
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