The presence of IgE on the surface of lymphocytes in nasal polyps

The presence of IgE-bearing lymphocytes in nasal polyps was correlated with the patients' atopic status. Following surgical removal, the polyp tissue was treated with hyaluronidase and a single-cell suspension was obtained. Lymphocytes were isolated by gradient centrifugation, and the fluorescent antibody technique was used to study the presence of various immunoglobulin markers on the surface of lymphocytes. The presence of IgE-bearing cells was correlated with serum IgE levels, history of allergy, and skin test reactions. Patients with a positive atopic history had intermediate to high serum IgE levels. There was no correlation between IgE level and skin reactivity in these patients. Good correlation was obtained between the number of IgE-bearing cells in nasal polyps and serum IgE levels in atopic patients. The IgE-bearing cells represented 10 to 40 per cent of total immunoglobulin-bearing lymphocytes. No IgE-bearing cells were detected in five of six patients with a negative atopic history and negative skin tests. Thus IgE may be synthesized within nasal polyps of atopic patients, and the polyps in atopic patients may have a different etiology from those in nonatopic patients.