title: Expression of GATA3, T-bet, IL-4, and IFN-gamma mRNA in the effusion of OME patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of allergy in the pathophysiology of otitis media with effusion (OME) remains unclear. We evaluated the role of allergy and the Th1/Th2 balance in OME patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Middle ear fluid was collected from 46 OME patients who had a ventilating tube inserted, and expression of GATA3, T-bet, IL-4, and IFN-gamma mRNA was assessed by RT-PCR. Expression of transcription factors and cytokines was compared in patients with and without allergy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of GATA3 and T-bet mRNA in effusion fluid correlated positively with the levels of IL-4 and IFN-gamma mRNA, respectively. However, the allergy and non-allergy groups showed no significant differences in expression of any of these transcription factors and cytokines. The T-bet:GATA3 ratio was higher in the non-allergy than in the allergy group, but the difference was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although we observed a significant positive correlation between GATA3 and IL-4 mRNA levels, we cannot conclude that OME with allergy is related to a Th-2 driven immune response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, EulJi University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Dong Choon
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young Chan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Gyu
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Eun
authors.forename: Seung Geun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Yeo
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000276:immunology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D020382:Interleukin-18; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4