| Popis: |
Purpose: Investigate mast cell (MCs) subtypes in atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC), ocular cicatrical pemphigoid (OCP), and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS). Methods: MCs subtypes were determined by immunohistochemistry of conjunctiva (obtained from 34 patients - 9 AKC, 9 OCP, 9 SJS and 7 normal) using monoclonal antibodies directed against chymase (MCc) and tryptase (MCT). Double staining was used to distinguish MCS as positive for both chymase and tryptase (MCTc). Results: The number of MCs was significantly increased in AKC, OCP and SJS patients, compared to normal subjects. MCc were especially high in AKC, and moderately high in OCR MC,and MCTC were similar in each disease group. Conclusions: While the AKC findings were not surprising, the result in OCP and SJS suggests that MCs play an underappreciated role in the inflammatory process of these disorders. Disparate proportions of MCS subtypes in these diseases may imply differential functions of MCs in these disorders. |
