Mucosal tissue polyclonal IgE is functional in response to allergen and SEB

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Otorhinolaryngology
• Allergy

Background:

• Staphylococcus aureus may influence airway diseases through local production of polyclonal IgE antibodies.
• The specific role of these IgE antibodies in airway disease pathogenesis remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the presence and function of IgE antibodies in the nasal mucosa of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and nasal polyps (NP).
• To explore the relationship between local and systemic IgE levels and mast cell activation in these conditions.

Main Methods:

• Collected nasal mucosal tissue and serum from AR and NP patients.
• Assessed total and specific IgE levels against allergens and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B.
• Stimulated tissue fragments and mast cell lines (RBL SX38) with various allergens and enterotoxin B.

Main Results:

• In AR patients, mast cell degranulation correlated with specific IgE presence and serum IgE levels.
• In NP patients, tissue mast cell activation correlated with local specific IgE, but not serum IgE. Tissue IgE was significantly higher than serum IgE.
• Functional IgE in NP tissue was demonstrated by its ability to degranulate mast cells.

Conclusions:

• Mucosal IgE antibodies in nasal polyps are functional and can activate mast cells.
• Specific IgE in nasal polyp tissue can exist independently of serum IgE.
• Superantigen-induced polyclonal IgE may contribute to chronic airway inflammation by sustained mast cell activation.