Mast cells in conjunctiva affected by cicatricial pemphigoid

Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) is characterized by progressive conjunctival subepithelial fibrosis often leading ultimately to corneal blindness. Mast cells have been shown to play a role in several fibrotic disorders, but the role of mast cells in OCP is unknown. The authors compared the mast cell population in conjunctival biopsy specimens from 14 OCP patients and from six controls by using specific histochemical stains for mast cell subsets. The total mast cell number and the ratio of connective tissue mast cells to mucosal mast cells (MMCs) were significantly higher in OCP than in normal conjunctiva (P less than 0.05). This report is the first analysis of mast cell subsets in human ocular tissue. The results suggest that connective tissue mast cells (CTMCs) may play an important role in OCP and that therapy directed toward mast cells and their mediators may be an appropriate avenue for further exploration.