Eur Respir J 2002; 19:879-885
Copyright ©ERS Journals Ltd 2002
Distribution and degranulation of airway mast cells in normal and asthmatic subjects
N.G. Carroll1,
S. Mutavdzic2 and
A.L. James2
1 Faculty of Regional Professional Studies, Edith Cowen University, Bunbury and 2 Dept of Pulmonary Physiology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia
CORRESPONDENCE: N. Carroll, Faculty of Regional Professional Studies, Edith Cowen University, Robertson Drive, Bunbury, WA, 6230, Australia. Fax: 61 897807814. E-mail: n.carroll@ecu.edu.au
Keywords: asthma, mast cells, pathology
Received: August 23, 2001
Accepted November 27, 2001
This study was supported by the Asthma Foundation of Western Australia, National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia.
It was hypothesized that the distribution and activation of mast cells across the airway wall may reflect their function in asthma.
The density of mast cells (intact and degranulated) within airway compartments in cartilaginous and membranous airways, obtained from autopsies on patients with fatal asthma, nonfatal asthma, and nonasthmatic control cases have been examined.
In cartilaginous airways, the mean±se density of mast cells in control cases was 27±9 cells·mm2. It was similar in nonfatal asthma (24±2 cells·mm2) but reduced (p<0.05) in fatal asthma cases (16±2 cells·mm2). In membranous airways, the density of mast cells in control cases was 155±21 cells·mm2 and was higher (p<0.05) in cases of nonfatal (270±51 cells·mm2) and fatal asthma (219±26 cells·mm2). Mast-cell density was greatest on the smooth muscle and mucous glands in cartilaginous airways and on the smooth muscle and outer airway wall in membranous airways. The percentage of degranulated mast cells was higher (p<0.05) in cases of asthma, related to disease severity, and was higher in cartilaginous than membranous airways. Degranulation was greatest on the smooth muscle in fatal asthma cases.
Mast-cell distribution and degranulation varies between cartilaginous and membranous airways and across the airway wall. Degranulation of mast cells is related to asthma severity. The increased degranulation in proximal airways may reflect stimulation via the inhaled route.
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Copyright © 2002 by the European Respiratory Society.
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