[Immunohistological study of the nasal mucosa in latent allergic patients]

We studied the distribution of T lymphocyte subpopulations and EG2 positive cells in the inferior turbinates of subjects with latent nasal allergy by use of an immunohistochemical procedure. Five patients who had a positive skin test for house dust and one who had a positive skin test for Japanese cedar were studied. The specimens were frozen at -70 degrees C and sliced at 4 microns with a cryostat. The peroxidaseantiperoxidase method with monoclonal antibodies (CD4, CD8, EG2) was used to detect T lymphocyte subpopulations and activated eosinophils. Finally, the specimens were counterstained with Mayer's Hematoxylin. CD4 positive cells and CD8 positive cells were found mainly in the superficial layer of the lamina propria. In every subject, the number of CD4 positive cells dominated that of CD8 positive cells in the lamina propria. The ratio of CD4 positive cells to CD8 positive cells was 1.93, on average. This ratio was lower than the ratio typical of nasal allergy, but higher than the ratio of non-allergic normal controls. Though the number of EG2 positive cells was lower than the number typical of nasal allergy, EG2 positive cells were observed in every case. We speculate that latent nasal allergic reactions may develop in the inferior turbinates.