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 (tlgE) level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and serum tlgE level by radio-immunoassay. The tissue albumin level was measured by nephelometry, and serum albumin level by Bromocresol green method. RESULTS: The polyp tissue tlgE/albumin as well as serum tlgE/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 tlgE/albumin (> 10). A significant correlation was noted between serum tlgE/albumin and polyp tlgE/albumin (r = 0.46, p = 0.04). The ratio of polyp tlgE/albumin to serum tlgE/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.
Albumins/analysis ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic/analysis* ; Biopsy, Needle ; Comparative Study ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Human ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate/immunology* ; IgE/biosynthesis* ; IgE/analysis ; Male ; Nasal Polyps/pathology ; Nasal Polyps/immunology* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Reference Values ; Tissue Culture ; Substances: IgE ; Substances: Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; Substances: Albumins