[Nitric oxide and cytokines in otitis media with effusion].
OBJECTIVE
To study the role of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) in the pathogenesis of secretory otitis media (SOM).


METHODS
The content of NO, interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in blood plasma and middle ear effusion (MEE) were measured in 58 (80 ears) patients with secretory otitis media and in 23 normal subjects, respectively.


RESULTS
NO, IL-8 and TNF-alpha were found in 100%, 82.2% and 71.4% of MEE respectively. NO, IL-8 or TNF-alpha of blood plasma in the SOM group was higher than those in the normal control group (P < 0.05). The concentration of NO, IL-8 or TNF-alpha in MEE was remarkably higher than those in blood plasma (P < 0.01). It revealed that the shorter the course, the higher the concentration of IL-8 in MEE (P < 0.01), and the longer the course, the higher the concentration of NO or TNF-alpha in MEE (P < 0.05). IL-8 concentration of MEE in serous fluid group was remarkably higher than that in the mucous fluid group (P < 0.01), and the concentration of NO or TNF-alpha of MEE in the mucous fluid group was higher than that in the serous fluid group (P < 0.05). NO level of MEE was positively correlated with TNF-alpha (r = 0.696 P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
NO IL-8 and TNF-alpha might be important mediators in MEE secretion in SOM. IL-8 might participate in the defensive reaction of organism during the early stages of SOM, and play a role in serous effusion secretion. NO and TNF-alpha might be closely related to the persistence of SOM, and might be a mediator of mucin secretion in SOM.
Lin
G
G
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Huang
W
W
Jiang
H
H
Wang
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide