Codetection of measles virus and tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA in otosclerotic stapes footplates.
OBJECTIVE
Otosclerosis is a disease of unknown etiology causing conductive or sensorineural hearing loss. Persistent measles virus infection of the otic capsule is considered to be one of the etiologic factors in otosclerosis.


BACKGROUND
Determinants of measles virus infection and reactive inflammation were studied in otosclerosis. The presence of measles virus was shown in otosclerotic patients by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification of the viral RNA. No report is available, however, on the types and features of paracrine cytokines in otosclerosis.


METHODS
Nucleic acid was extracted from stapes footplate samples of clinically otosclerotic patients. Measles virus nucleoprotein RNA was amplified by seminested RT-PCR. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR in otosclerotic bone and was correlated with preoperative audiologic findings and measles virus positivity.


RESULTS
Among 154 clinically otosclerotic patients, 99 stapes footplate specimens contained measles virus RNA. TNF-alpha mRNA was detectable in 88 virus-positive and in 6 virus-negative stapes footplates. There was no detectable TNF-alpha mRNA expression in virus negative cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The etiologic role of measles virus in the pathogenesis of otosclerosis should be considered. Detection of TNF-alpha mRNA demonstrates activated osteoclast functions and inflammatory pathways in otosclerotic stapes footplates associated with measles virus presence. Virus-associated and virus-negative pathomechanisms of otosclerosis should be distinguished.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical School of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
Tamás
T
Karosi
József
J
Kónya
László Z
LZ
Szabó
József
J
Pytel
József
J
Jóri
Anita
A
Szalmás
István
I
Sziklai
D000328:Adult; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013199:Stapes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D013201:Stapes Surgery; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha