title: MUC5AC expression in human middle ear epithelium of patients with otitis media.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare levels of middle ear (ME) MUC5AC expression in patients with otitis media (OM) with patients without OM. Mucin gene 5AC has been identified as a major secretory mucin in the ME and is fundamentally important in the development of ME mucoid effusions, hearing loss and also provides ME mucosal protection and bacterial clearance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary, academic, pediatric otolaryngology practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients 9 months to 7 years old undergoing routine tympanostomy tube (TT) insertion for recurrent otitis media (RecOM) or chronic otitis media with effusion (COME) were compared with control patients without a history of OM undergoing cochlear implantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  During routine TT placement or cochlear implantation, a 1-mm biopsy sample of the ME epithelium was obtained. RNA was extracted, and real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify levels of MUC5AC expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three patients with OM (12 with RecOM and with 11 COME) were evaluated using 5 controls. Mean age was not different between groups. In the RecOM group, mean expression of MUC5AC was 25.92 times greater than in controls. In the COME group, the mean expression was 155.40 times greater than in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levels of MUC5AC expression in the human ME are significantly increased in patients with RecOM and COME compared with controls. This study demonstrates MUC5AC gene changes in patients with OM and highlights the need for greater understanding of the molecular responses in OM; particularly that of mucin. A thorough exploration of these factors will provide opportunities to develop novel interventions for the extremely common problem of OM.
authors: Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, 9000 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. kersch@mcw.edu
authors: Joseph E
authors: JE
authors: Kerschner
authors: Shivani
authors: S
authors: Tripathi
authors: Pawjai
authors: P
authors: Khampang
authors: Blake C
authors: BC
authors: Papsin
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D055271:Mucin 5AC / Q000235:genetics*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012008:Recurrence; D012016:Reference Values; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: C524678:MUC5AC protein, human; D055271:Mucin 5AC