IgE production from the nasal polyp tissue: Comparison between atopic and non-atopic subjects

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: To confirm the local production of IgE antibody from the nasal polyp tissue, and to evaluate the difference between atopics and non-atopics, nasal polyp tissues were taken from both 10 atopic and 10 non-atopic subjects. The tissue total IgE (tIgE) level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and serum tIgE level by radio-immunoassay. The tissue albumin level was measured by nephelometry, and serum albumin level by Bromocresol green method. RESULTS: The polyp tissue tIgE/albumin as well as serum tIgE/albumin ratio were significantly higher in atopics than in non-atopics (p<0.05), with no difference in the albumin level between the two groups (p>0.05). Three non-atopic subjects had high polyp tissue tIgE/albumin (>10). A significant correlation was noted between serum tIgE/albumin and polyp tIgE/albumin (r=0.46, p=0.04). The ratio of polyp tIgE/albumin to serum tIgE/albumin was greater than 1 in all of the non-atopic subjects and 7 of 10 atopic subjects. CONCLUSION: These findings support the hypothesis that IgE antibody could be locally produced from the nasal polyp tissue of non-atopic subjects as well as atopic subjects. The possibility of an isolated local production of IgE antibody was suggested.