IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF CELLS THAT SYNTHESIZE LEUKOTRIENE-B4 IN HUMAN GASTRIC-MUCOSA

We evaluated the cell location of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in human gastric mucosa by immunohistochemistry using a novel fixation procedure with 0.5% glutaraldehyde-8% paraformaldehyde followed by periodate-lysine-2% paraformaldehyde. The location of LTA4 hydrolase, which synthesizes LTB4, was also investigated in human gastric mucosa. Staining for LTB4 was mostly in a granular pattern in the cytoplasm of parietal and surface epithelial cells. LTB4 was also stained in some vascular endothelial cells and a few polymorphonuclear cells in the lamina propria. LTA4 hydrolase was similarly stained in these cells. These results suggest that parietal, surface epithelial, and vascular endothelial cells are the cells that synthesize LTB4 in the human gastric mucosa. Polymorphonuclear cells might also synthesize a smaller amount of LTB4.