Eosinophils are characteristic of the IgE- mediated allergic reaction and may be classified as EG1-positive cells or EG2-positive cells.
Author measured the number of EG1- and EG2-positive cells in the nasal mucosa of the perennial allergic rhinitis patients using an immunohistochemical procedure. Thirty-six patients with HD mite (D. f, D. p) nasal allergy without treatment (Group II), twenty patients treated with topical steroid spray (Group III), and twenty normal controls (Group I) were studied by staining with monoclonal antibodys EG1 and EG2 using a LSAB kit. The number and the ratio of EG1- and EG2- positive cells were correlated with nasal symptoms and severity. In addition the relationship between EG2- positive cells and the RAST score was examined.
In untreated patients (Group II), the number of EG1- and EG2-positive cells and the ratio of EG2/EG1-positive cells were significantly higher than in patients treated with topical steroid spray (Group III) (p<0.05). A significant correlation between the number of EG2-positive cells and severity of symptoms as noticed seen in patients who did not receive treatment (Group II) (p<0.05).
In conclusion, we have demonstrated a role for EG2-positive cells (which contain the secreted form of ECP) in the pathophysiology of perennial allergic rhinitis, and the use of topical steroid spray can modulate the infiltration and activation of eosinophils in the nasal mucosa.
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