Degranulation of cystic fibrosis nasal polyp mast cells

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Abstract
The ultrastructure of nasal polyps from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients was compared with non‐CF nasal polyps in this study. Morphometric analysis showed that CF nasal polyps contained greater numbers of mast cells, endothelial cells, lymphocytes, and plasma cells compared with the non‐CF specimens. Morphologic evidence of degranulation was seen in approximately 30 per cent of the CF mast cells but was not observed in the non‐CF mast cells. Increased numbers of small granules, vacuolated granules, and lipid bodies were noted in the CF compared with the non‐CF nasal polyp mast cells. Also observed was a decrease in collagen in the extracellular space of the CF nasal polyps compared with the non‐CF specimens. Although eosinophils were observed in the non‐CF nasal polyp tissue, these leukocytes were absent in the CF nasal polyps. These data indicate that striking morphologic differences exist between CF and non‐CF nasal polyps with mast cell degranulation, a salient feature of CF specimens.