[Infiltration of cells in the bronchial mucosa in atopic and non-atopic patients with bronchial asthma].

Numbers of T lymphocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, and mast cells in samples of bronchial mucosa were measured with monoclonal antibodies. Samples were obtained by biopsy from atopic (A) and non-atopic (NA) patients with bronchial asthma, and from healthy control subjects (C). The numbers of T lymphocytes, eosinophils, and neutrophils did not differ significantly between the A group and the NA group, but the A group had significantly more mast cells than the NA group (p < 0.025). The difference was greatest in the mucosal epithelium (p < 0.01). Electron microscopy revealed many degranulating mast cells in the A group. These results suggest that in atopic patients with bronchial asthma, mast cells infiltrate into bronchial mucosal epithelium and contribute to inflammation.