A. Kleinjan et al., ALLERGEN BINDING TO SPECIFIC IGE IN THE NASAL-MUCOSA OF ALLERGIC PATIENTS, Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, 99(4), 1997, pp. 515-521
Background: Until now, it has not been possible to identify specific I
gE locally in the airway mucosa. In this study we investigated the pos
sibility of determining specific allergen binding locally in the nasal
mucosa. Methods: Nasal mucosal biopsy specimens were taken from 11 pa
tients with symptoms of an isolated grass pollen allergy, 10 patients
with symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis in response to house dust
mite allergen, and 10 nonallergic control subjects, Sections of these
biopsy specimens were stained by using commercially available biotiny
lated allergens (AlaSTAT, Diagnostic Products Corp.). Results: Stainin
g with biotinylated grass pollen (GP1) demonstrated positive cells onl
y in patients with grass pollen allergy. Biotinylated Dermatophagoides
pteronyssinus (D1) only stained cells in patients with perennial alle
rgy. Specific binding of allergen to cells of patients with allergy an
d the blocking experiments proved the method to be highly specific. Al
lergen-positive cells stained double with IgE, the high-affinity recep
tor for IgE (Fc epsilon RI), CD1, HLA-DR, tryptase, and chymase. Most
allergen-positive cells proved to be mast cells. Conclusion: This immu
nohistochemical study shows the presence of specific IgE against grass
pollen and house dust mite allergens locally on cells in the airway m
ucosa.