Abstract
In the previous reports, we have demonstrated that, in the patients with nasal allergy, the basophilic granular cells (BGC) increase in the nasal secretion. These cells are thought to originate mostly from the blood basophils and to play an important role in the manifestation of nasal symptoms. We carried out this study in order to elucidate the mechanism of BGC appearance in nasal secretion after the exposure to the antigen in patients with Japanese ceder pollinosis. The following parameters were chosen; 1) the basophilic leukocytes count of peripheral blood 2) the degree of the nasal symptom, 3) the degree of nasal provocation reaction, 4) the numbers of BGC in nasal secretion, 5) the appearance times of BGC in nasal secretion after nasal provocation, 6) the serum IgE and serum IgE antibody levels, 7) the percent histamine release from leukocytes. The parameters were measured both in a pollination season and in an off-season of Japanese ceder pollen.
The results were as follows:
1) The numbers of BGC in nasal secretion and the degree of nasal provocation reaction were concurrently increased in a pollination season more than in an off-season. These changes were more significant in the patients with single sensitization of ceder pollen when compared with the patients who had combined sensitization to other antigens.
2) The numbers of blood basophils increased in a pollination season and decreased in an offseason.
3) The serum IgE levels remained unchanged but the IgE antibody levels and percent histamine release slightly increased in a pollination season.
4) In a pollination season, it took only 2 hours for the marked increase of the BGC in nasal secretian after nasal provocation, while in an off-season, it took longer than 16 hours. The decrease of blood basophils was observed one hour after provocation in a pollination season.
We conclude that 1) the antigen exposure induces the increase of BGC in nasal secretion and 2) the increase of BGC contributes significantly to the increased sensitivity to antigen provocation in a pollination season. The mechanism of the difference of the appearance time of BGC after provocation in a pollination season and in an off-season remains unknown.
