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. 2000 Nov;123(5):533-8.
doi: 10.1067/mhn.2000.109472.

Increased expression of major basic protein (MBP) and interleukin-5(IL-5) in middle ear biopsy specimens from atopic patients with persistent otitis media with effusion

E D Wright  1 , D Hurst, D Miotto, C Giguere, Q Hamid
Affiliations

Increased expression of major basic protein (MBP) and interleukin-5(IL-5) in middle ear biopsy specimens from atopic patients with persistent otitis media with effusion

E D Wright et al. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2000 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Molecular biologic evidence to support an etiologic role for allergy in the pathogenesis of persistent otitis media with effusion (OME) is lacking.

Objective: The goal of this article was to document expression of allergy-associated Th-2-type cytokines and inflammatory cells in the middle ear mucosa of children with persistent OME.

Methods: With immunocytochemistry (CD3, major basic protein) and in situ hybridization (interleukin-5 mRNA), middle ear biopsy specimens from 7 children with persistent OME were stained. Nonatopic stapedectomy patients with no history of otitis media served as controls (n = 7).

Results: There was a statistically significant (P< 0.05) difference in expression of CD3, major basic protein, and interleukin-5 between experimental and control subjects. All 8 OME patients proved to be atopic by ELISA testing.

Conclusions: Type I allergy involving a Th-2-type cytokine and cellular profile may be a contributing factor in the persistence of OME in atopic children.

Significance: The middle ear may serve as a target organ for allergic inflammation, suggesting that appropriate allergy management may be a useful adjunct to the management of OME.

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