Role of mast cells in otitis media.
BACKGROUND
New pathophysiologic concepts are needed to explain the clinically observed connection between the allergic diathesis and otitis media. Although mast cells, unlike lymphocytes, are common in the normal middle ear mucosa, their potential role in innate immunity of the middle ear and in the expression of inflammatory responses in that space to bacterial challenge, as opposed to allergy, has received relatively little attention.


OBJECTIVE
In the current study, we examine the contributions of mast cells to the pathogenesis of bacterially induced inflammation in the middle ear and thus to otitis media.


METHODS
Wild-type mice, mast cell-deficient mice, and mast cell-deficient mice whose mast cell populations were restored by transplantation of bone marrow-derived mast cells were challenged by using models of bacterial and allergic middle ear inflammation.


RESULTS
Our results indicate that mast cells account for a substantial proportion of the innate immune response to bacteria in the middle ear.


CONCLUSIONS
This mechanism may link responses to allergy and infection in the middle ear mucosa, and thus the mast cell may be a critical control element in the pathogenesis of otitis media.
Ebmeyer
Jörg
J
Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology; Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Julius-Maximilian University of Würzburg, Germany.
Furukawa
Masayuki
M
Pak
Kwang
K
Ebmeyer
Umay
U
Sudhoff
Holger
H
Broide
David
D
Ryan
Allen F
AF
Wasserman
Stephen
S
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D007267:Injections; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation; D051379:Mice; D020297:Mice, Congenic; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
D004338:Drug Combinations; D010047:Ovalbumin