Response of Human Jejunal Mast Cells to Degranulatory Procedures

Abstract

The distribution of the degranulatory response of human jejunal mast cells to serum containing egg white-specific IgE and egg white (IgE-egg white) was unimodal. A similar distribution of the response to neurotensin and compound 48/80, although slightly positively skewed, was also observed. The median reduction in the number of granulated mast cells with these three degranulatory agents was remarkably parallel. There was a significant correlation between the degranulation obtained by IgE-egg white and neurotensin in the same tissue specimens. This correlation was not so apparent between the response obtained with IgE-egg white and neurotensin or neurotensin and compound 48/80. A possible history of allergic disease did not influence the results.

Key Words:

• Antigen-antibody reaction
• compound 48/80
• IgE
• intestinal mucosa
• jejunum
• mast cells
• neurotensin