title: Immunologic characteristics of cytokines in otitis media with effusion.
abstract: Levels of cytokines, interleukin (IL)-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were investigated in samples of the middle ear effusions (MEEs) from 144 ears with otitis media with effusion (OME) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, followed by cytologic analysis. Middle ear effusions of the acute purulent type contained a significantly higher concentration of cytokines compared with normal control sera (p < .001). Cytokines were observed at lower levels in MEE in adults than in children. Tests of children at the chronic stage of MEE showed higher levels of TNF than IL-1 and GM-CSF. Meanwhile, IL-1 beta showed significantly higher concentrations in acute purulent types than in serous and mucoid types (p < .01). In cytologic analysis, the mean level of IL-1 beta was significantly higher in the neutrophil-rich group than in other groups (p < .05). Cytokines possess several biologic properties, some of which are associated not only with acute otitis media but also with chronic otitis media. This study showed that cytokines, especially IL-1 beta, contribute to infiltration into the middle ear by inflammatory cells. This implies that the persistent presence of cytokines in MEE could be a factor in prolonged OME.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Sapporo Medical College, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Himi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takezawa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kataura
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor