Accumulation of intraepithelial mast cells with a unique protease phenotype in TH2-high asthma

RH Dougherty, SS Sidhu, K Raman, M Solon… - Journal of Allergy and …, 2010 - Elsevier
BACKGROUND: Previously, we found that mast cell tryptases and carboxypeptidase A3
(CPA3) are differentially expressed in the airway epithelium in asthmatic subjects. We also
found that asthmatic subjects can be divided into 2 subgroups (“TH2 high” and “TH2 low”
asthma) based on epithelial cell gene signatures for the activity of TH2 cytokines.
OBJECTIVES: We sought to characterize intraepithelial mast cells (IEMCs) in asthma.
METHODS: We performed gene expression profiling in epithelial brushings and stereology …