Possible role of macrophages in allergic rhinitis

Mononuclear phagocytes have been investigated in biopsies taken from the nasal mucosa and in epithelial cell samples from 22 grass-pollen-allergic subjects before season, after allergen challenge and during season by means of immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. The cells were positive for CD68/EBM11 and HLA-DR, but failed to react with CD1 and CD23/BB10. The cells increased in number during season as well as after allergen challenge, especially in the upper part of the mucosa. Heteromorphy of macrophages, as seen by transmission electron microscopy, confirmed the presence of diverse macrophage subpopulations in the nasal mucosa of allergic subjects. Using brush sampling techniques, CD68-positive and HLA-DR-positive cells significantly increased in epithelial cell samples 4-8 h after allergen challenge, indicating a central role of these cells not only in antigen processing but also in late phase reactions of allergic rhinitis.