LYMPHOCYTE SUBSETS AND ANTIGEN-SPECIFIC IGE ANTIBODY IN NASAL POLYPS

We tried to elucidate the role of allergic factors in the pathogenesis of nasal polyps. Nasal polyps were obtained from 22 patients with chr onic sinusitis which included eight patients proved to have nasal alle rgy by history, skin test, and serum-specific IgE against houst dust m ite. Immunohistochemical studies of lymphocyte subpopulations in the m ucosa of nasal polyps were performed with monoclonal antibodies, and t he concentrations of antigen-specific IgE in nasal polyps were measure d by the fluoroallergosorbent test. In the epithelium, few HLA-DR(+) c ells were constantly present. In the submucosa, pan T cell marker CD2 was detected more often than CD19 (B cell), and more CD8 (T suppressor /cytotoxic) cells than CD4 (T helper/inducer) cells were found. IgE-pr oducing plasma cells were rarely present. The lymphocyte subpopulation s and the levels of antigen-specific IgE in nasal polyps were not diff erent between the allergic and nonallergic groups. This suggests that allergy may not be the cause, and cellular immunity of antigen present ing cells and T lymphocytes, which consecutively induce infiltration a nd degranulation of mast cells by the production of cytokines, may be involved in the formation of nasal polyps with sinusitis.