Monoclonal antibody-detectable carbohydrate epitopes of human nasal secretions are differentially expressed in tissue and diseases.

To study the differential carbohydrate expression of airway secretions, we have produced a series of monoclonal antibodies that recognize human nasal secretory cell products. Mice were immunized with purified nasal secretion from patients with chronic sinusitis (CS) and hybridomas were selected by ELISA and immunohistochemical staining of the maxillary sinus mucosa from patients with CS. Eighteen antibodies were obtained. Antibody HCS 18 reacted with epithelial goblet cells, antibody HCS 4, 5, 6, and 16 stained submucosal gland cells, and antibody HCS 13 and 15 reacted with epithelial goblet cells, submucosal gland cells, and endothelial cells of vessels. The other eleven antibodies recognized epithelial goblet cells and submucosal gland cells. Cross-reactivity of these antibodies with secretory cells in other organs and in other species was determined and the different staining pattern was observed between upper and lower airway tissue, suggesting that secretory products from upper and lower airways may be different. Reactivity of the antibodies with nasal secretory cells was also examined in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis (AR) and normal subjects. Antibody HCS 18 weakly reacted with nasal glands in the tissue from CS and AR patients, but minimally reacted with gland cells in normal tissue. Antibody HCS 1 and 7 partially lost their reactivity with nasal epithelium of inferior turbinate from normal subjects and AR patients. These antibodies may be useful to study nasal secretions.