PURPOSE: Investigate mast cell (MC(S)) subtypes in atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC), ocular cicatrical pemphigoid (OCP), and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS). METHODS: MC(S) 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 (MC(C)) and tryptase (MC(T)). Double staining was used to distinguish MC(S) as positive for both chymase and tryptase (MC(TC)). RESULTS: The number of MC(S) was significantly increased in AKC, OCP and SJS patients, compared to normal subjects. MC( C) were especially high in AKC, and moderately high in OCP. MC(T ) and MC(TC) were similar in each disease group. CONCLUSIONS: While the AKC findings were not surprising, the result in OCP and SJS suggests that MC(S) play an underappreciated role in the inflammatory process of these disorders. Disparate proportions of MC(S) subtypes in these diseases may imply differential functions of MC(S) in these disorders.
PURPOSE: Investigate mast cell (MC(S)) subtypes in atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC), ocular cicatrical pemphigoid (OCP), and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS). METHODS:MC(S) 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 (MC(C)) and tryptase (MC(T)). Double staining was used to distinguish MC(S) as positive for both chymase and tryptase (MC(TC)). RESULTS: The number of MC(S) was significantly increased in AKC, OCP and SJSpatients, compared to normal subjects. MC( C) were especially high in AKC, and moderately high in OCP. MC(T ) and MC(TC) were similar in each disease group. CONCLUSIONS: While the AKC findings were not surprising, the result in OCP and SJS suggests that MC(S) play an underappreciated role in the inflammatory process of these disorders. Disparate proportions of MC(S) subtypes in these diseases may imply differential functions of MC(S) in these disorders.