Lymphocyte Differentiation in the Nasal Mucosa

Abstract

Few cytological studies have investigated the morphologic changes occurring during lymphocyte differentiation in the nose. The aim of the study is to investigate lymphocyte and plasma cell morphology in patients with allergic rhinitis. Nasal cytology was performed in 110 patients (61 men, 49 women) of ages ranging from 12 to 47 years (mean age, 27), 72 of whom were affected by pollen allergic rhinitis (32 allergic to olive, 21 to Parietaria, 13 to grasses, and 6 to cypress) and 38 by perennial allergic rhinitis (allergy to house dust mites). Cytological samples were obtained by scraping with Rhino-Probe™. The samples were collected from the inferior middle turbinate. After fixing and drying, the samples were stained and counted. Cells belonging to the lymphocyte-plasma cell lineage were analyzed. Within this population, 5 different cellular types were identified displaying particular morphologic features of the nucleus and the cytoplasm. These morphological variants constitute various functional stages of B lymphocytes. In allergic inflammation, antigen stimulation induces B lymphocytes to differentiate and become plasma cells. The findings from this strictly morphological study will need to be confirmed by immunohistochemical and immunophenotypic studies.