Do bronchial biopsies represent mast cell density in airways? A stereological study
M L Carroll1, N G Carroll, A L James
1Faculty of Regional Professional Studies, Edith Cowan University, Bunbury, Western Australia. Mark.Carroll@health.wa.gov.au
The European Respiratory Journal
|July 14, 2006
Summary
Endobronchial biopsies can accurately represent airway mast cell density when taken from at least four proximal airways. This finding holds true for both 3D stereological and 2D nonstereological methods, aiding in inflammatory cell research.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Cell Biology
- Histopathology
Background:
- Endobronchial biopsies may not fully capture airway wall inflammation.
- Accurate assessment of inflammatory cell counts is crucial for understanding airway diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare mast cell density in endobronchial biopsies versus airway sections.
- To evaluate stereological and nonstereological methods for mast cell quantification.
Main Methods:
- Post-mortem airway biopsies and transverse sections from 10 non-respiratory deceased subjects.
- Stereological (cells x mm(-3)) and nonstereological (cells x mm(-2)) quantification of tryptase-positive mast cells.
- Analysis of mast cell density within the inner and total airway wall, and up to 100 microm below the basement membrane.
Main Results:
- Mast cell density in biopsies correlated significantly with transverse sections for the inner airway wall, using both methods.
- Stereological and nonstereological cell counts were significantly correlated across all reference areas.
- At least four biopsy sites per case provided representative mast cell density data.
Conclusions:
- Endobronchial biopsies, when adequately sampled (≥4 proximal airways), can reliably represent mast cell density in the inner airway wall.
- Both stereological and nonstereological methods are suitable for this comparison.
- Biopsy-based mast cell density is a valid surrogate for airway section analysis in inter-subject comparisons.
