Distribution of chymase-containing mast cells in human bronchi

Mast cell chymase stimulates secretion from cultured airway gland serous cells and hydrolyzes bronchoactive peptides in vitro. To explore the likelihood of these interactions occurring in situ, we examined the distribution and concentration of chymase-containing mast cells near glands and smooth muscle of major human bronchi from eight individuals without known airway disease. Total airway mast cells and the subset of mast cells containing chymase were detected by staining for methylene blue metachromasia and chloroacetate esterase activity, respectively. The percentage of chymase-containing mast cells was found to differ strikingly among bronchial tissue compartments. Near glands, for example, the concentration of chymase-positive mast cells (640 +/- 120 cells/mm3) was 73 +/- 9% that of total mast cells (910 +/- 130 cells/mm3), whereas in smooth muscle the concentration of chymase-positive mast cells (450 +/- 200 cells/mm3) was only 14 +/- 4% that of total mast cells (2920 +/- 620 cells/mm3). Of all chymase-containing mast cells in the airway subepithelium, 30 +/- 4% were located within 20 microns of submucosal glands. Although the percentage of chymase-containing cells varied, the absolute concentration of chymase-containing mast cells was similar in all compartments. These results reveal a differential distribution of mast cell subpopulations in human airway and suggest that mast cells containing chymase are near gland and smooth muscle targets.