title: Cyclo-oxygenase enzyme in the perilymph of human inner ear.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme would not appear to be constitutively expressed in human perilymph while it is always induced in the perilymph of patients affected by sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The COX-2 isoform may be involved in hearing loss and, therefore, pathological states of the inner ear should possibly be further analyzed to clarify the clinical relevance of prostaglandin and selective COX-2 antagonist therapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Perilymph samples from a group of patients with bilateral SNHL and another with conductive hearing loss were collected to evaluate the presence of the COX-2 enzyme. The possible correlation between different causes of deafness and the expression of COX-2 in the human ear was studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective clinical study of 14 patients with severe or profound hearing loss who underwent cochlear implant surgery and 4 patients with conductive hearing loss who underwent stapes surgery was carried out. Western blot analysis of perilymph samples was performed with monoclonal anti-human COX-2 antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  COX-2 enzyme was detected in all patients affected by SNHL and was absent in all those with conductive hearing loss due to otosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sensory Organs, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy. giuseppe.attanasio@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Attanasio
authors.forename: Marika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viccaro
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Covelli
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De seta
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minni
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pizzoli
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Filipo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002675:Child, Preschool; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000201:enzymology*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010498:Perilymph / Q000201:enzymology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2