Mast cell number and phenotype in chronic idiopathic urticaria☆,☆☆,★
Section snippets
Subjects
Eleven patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria were recruited (6 men and 5 women; age range, 21 to 63 years), and nine consented to skin biopsies of both lesional and nonlesional skin. Chronic idiopathic urticaria was defined as the appearance of recurrent, multiple cutaneous wheals for more than 3 months, occurring at intervals of not less than 1 week. All patients were subject to a detailed history, physical examination, and as appropriate, laboratory investigation to exclude underlying
RESULTS
No significant differences were observed among lesional, nonlesional, or control skin at either 0 to 183 μm or 183 to 366 μm from the dermo-epidermal junction (Table I, Fig. 1). With the exception of samples from two patients with urticaria (in which 95% and 96% of mast cells, respectively, were of the MCTC type in nonlesional skin), in other samples (from both patients with urticaria and control subjects) more than 99% of mast cells present were of the MCTC type.
DISCUSSION
Chymase and tryptase are located almost exclusively in mast cells, basophils containing negligible amounts of tryptase (0.04 pg/cell) and undetectable amounts of chymase. The alkaline phosphatase–conjugated G3 antibody stains only mast cells.11 Similarly, eosinophils, neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes have no detectable tryptase.12, 13 Thus immunohistochemical localization of these two enzymes provides a discriminating marker for human mast cells. Although chymase and tryptase are
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Cited by (82)
Chronic urticaria and the pathogenic role of mast cells
2023, Allergology InternationalNutrition and urticaria
2022, Clinics in DermatologyCitation Excerpt :Patients with chronic urticaria plasma histamine levels were significantly higher after a digestive histamine challenge compared with controls.35 Increased levels of skin histamine have been reported in patients with chronic urticaria.5 A histamine-free diet for 3 weeks resulted in histamine plasma levels that fell to the level of controls and an improvement in symptoms.21
Skin Biopsy in Chronic Urticaria: When and Where and What to Look for?
2021, Actas Dermo-SifiliograficasCurrent and emerging treatments for chronic spontaneous urticaria
2020, Annals of Allergy, Asthma and ImmunologyCitation Excerpt :Skin-derived MCTC cells additionally express Mas-related gene X2 (MrgX2), a G-protein–coupled receptor activated by 48/80, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and numerous US Food and Drug Administration–approved peptidergic drugs, which serves as a secondary mechanism for mast cell activation independent of IgE (Fig. 1).14,15 Although it is unclear whether the number of MCTC cells differ between patients with CU and healthy controls because of conflicting data,11,13,14,16-18 evidence indicates that the number of MrgX2+ MCTC cells is significantly greater in skin tissues obtained from patients with CU when compared with healthy controls.14 This observation has led the field to consider the significance of this alternative mechanism of mast cell activation as a potential contributor to CSU.
Urticaria and Angioedema Across the Ages
2020, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In PracticeHalf-life of IgE in serum and skin: Consequences for anti-IgE therapy in patients with allergic disease
2017, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
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From the Department of Allergy & Respiratory Medicine, United Medical & Dental Schools, Guy’s Hospital, London.
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Reprint requests: H. Lee, Department of Allergy & Respiratory Medicine, United Medical & Dental Schools, Guy's Hospital, St. Thomas' St., London SE1 9RT, England.
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