The study on the Expression of Estrogen Receptors in Mast Cells of Bronchial Mucosa from Asthmatic Patients / 中国医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the changes of estrogen receptor expression in mast cells of bronchial mucosa from female asthmatic patients.Methods 12 cases of female asthmatic patients and 9 cases of control female patients were enrolled in this study.The bronchial mucosa was obtained from the third grade bronchial by fiexible bronchofiberscope.Mast cells were marked by anti-mast cell tryptase monoclonal antibody,the expression of estrogen receptor(ER)were detected by anti-human estrogen receptor(ER)monoclonal antibodies.Results Mast cells and estrogen receptor positive cells of bronchial mucosa in female asthmatic patients were significantly higher than that in control group(P＜0.01).Coincident with the known features of bronchial asthma,the cells positive for estrogen receptor were morphologically similar to the mast cells.The cells stained for estrogen receptors by dual immunostaining coincided exactly with cells labeled as mast cells.Conclusion The result suggested the estrogen may be involved in the pathogenesis of female asthmatic patient through the changes of estrogen receptor expression in mast cells of bronchial mucosa.