title: Characterization of cytokines present in pediatric otitis media with effusion: comparison of allergy positive and negative.
abstract: To investigate the possible relationship between allergy and otitis media with effusion (OME), we investigated the cytokine level in the middle ear effusion (MEE)s of children with persistent OME. Interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in the MEEs were measured by devised sensitive sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compared allergy positive group with allergy negative group. The mean levels of IL-4, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in MEE were significantly higher in allergy positive group than allergy negative group (P<0.05). Elevation of Th-2-driven cytokines (IL-4, IL-6) and TNF-alpha in MEEs may be a contributing factor in the persistence of OME with allergy.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4