New aspects of tissue mast cells in inflammatory airway diseases
Author
Summary, in English
Under healthy baseline conditions, mast cells were abundant at all airway levels with a gradually increasing numbers towards the alveolar parenchyma. The MCT and MCTC populations could be further divided into site-specific subpopulations with regard to expression of mediators and morphology. A main finding was that the alveolar mast cell population had low expression of FcεRI in the healthy human lung. In COPD, CF and IPF, a significant increase in the proportion and density of MCTC with increased expression of CD88, IL-6 and TGF-β were found. Several mast cell alterations correlated to patient lung function and to the degree of remodelling compared to healthy controls. Mast cell numbers did not differ in healthy controls, patients with mild asthma or rhinitis with or without bronchial hyperreactivity. In patients with uncontrolled asthma despite treatment with inhaled corticosteroids, an increase of MCTC was found in the bronchi and alveolar parenchyma. In mild and uncontrolled asthma a significant increase of the expression of FcεRI was found in the alveolar parenchyma
In conclusion, the prevailing MCT and MCTC populations could be further divided into site-specific subpopulations dependent on the local microenvironment already at healthy conditions. Mast cell alterations are present in patients with COPD, CF and IPF, diseases characterised by increases in the density of MCTC with increased expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic molecules. Uncontrolled atopic asthma patients have expanded MCT and MCTC populations in the alveolar parenchyma. The increase in alveolar mast cell expression of FcεRI might be specific to atopic asthma since we could detect similar changes in mild asthma, but not in patients with allergic rhinitis, CF and COPD.
Department/s
Publishing year
2011
Language
English
Publication/Series
Lund University Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
Volume
2011:11
Full text
Document type
Dissertation
Publisher
Lund University
Topic
- Immunology in the medical area
- Respiratory Medicine and Allergy
Status
Published
Research group
- Airway Inflammation and Immunology
Supervisor
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1652-8220
- ISBN: 978-91-86671-60-0
Defence date
11 February 2011
Defence time
09:00
Defence place
Belfragesalen, BMC D15
Opponent
- Sally Wenzel