AN IN-VITRO MODEL FOR MEASURING TRYPTASE RELEASE FROM NASAL-MUCOSA INRESPONSE TO ALLERGEN CHALLENGE

A simple in vitro nasal mucosal culture model has been developed to me asure release of the mast cell specific enzyme tryptase in response to allergen challenge. Patients who were undergoing inferior turbinectom y were skin-tested for commonly inhaled allergens. The mucosa from the inferior turbinates was kept viable using Minimal Essential Medium. T ryptase release into the medium was measured using the Pharmacia Riact Assay. There was a significant increase in tryptase release in respon se to allergen challenge from the mucosa harvested from skin-test posi tive patients. Mucosa from skin-test negative patients failed to demon strate an increase in tryptase release. This could prove to be a usefu l research model for the study of nasal type I hypersensitivity and dr ugs that affect it.