QUANTIFICATION OF RESIDENT INFLAMMATORY CELLS IN THE HUMAN NASAL-MUCOSA

Background: To define the normal resident inflammatory cell population in the nasal mucosa, surgical specimens of human nasal turbinates wer e immunohistologically stained for various cell markers. Methods: Free ze-dried paraffin-embedded sections were stained for lymphocyte cell-s urface markers, and Carnoy's fixed sections were stained for mast cell s and immunoglobulins. The numbers of stained cells were microscopical ly counted.Results: T cells (CD3+ cells) were abundant in the lamina p ropria, and the number of CD4+ cells and CD8+ cells accounted for two thirds and one third of CD3+ cell number, respectively. Cells that sta ined for the alpha-chain of the interleukin-2 receptor (activated cell s, CD25+) were limited and accounted for only 0.6% of CD3+ cell number . B cells (CD22+ cells) and monocytes and macrophages (CD14+ cells) we re observed less frequently than T cells. Many immunoglobulin-producin g cells were found in close proximity to the submucosal glands, and th ose cells were predominantly IgA+. Mast cells were widely distributed in the nasal mucosa, and about one third of these cells were stained f or IgE molecules. Nonmast cells bearing IgE were rarely observed Concl usion: Thus the dominant cell in the nasal mucosa is a CD3+, CD4+, CD2 5-lymphocyte.