Relationship of T lymphocytes, cytokines, immunoglobulin E and nitric oxide with otitis media with effusion in children and their clinical significances

Induction of Nitric Oxide and Its Role in Otitis Media

Although many studies have investigated the expression and role of nitric oxide (NO) in various diseases, it remains unclear whether NO has a beneficial or detrimental impact on otitis media. This review examines the literature on the expression and role of NO in different forms of otitis media, including acute otitis media, otitis media with effusion, chronic otitis media, and cholesteatomatous otitis media. Of the 22 studies reviewed, 18 reported that NO induces or exacerbates otitis media, whereas two studies suggested that NO may aid in its treatment. Factors contributing to these conflicting results include the type of otitis media studied, the duration of the condition, the types of samples collected, and the specific type of NO synthase targeted. Comprehensive analysis indicates that NO expression may be higher in chronic otitis media than in acute forms and is more pronounced in patients with cholesteatoma than in those without it. Although these findings suggest that NO inhibitors could potentially aid in the treatment of otitis media, NO could also aid in its treatment by inhibiting bacterial infections. Despite the dual potential of NO, current evidence suggests a strong association between NO and the pathophysiology of otitis media.

Narrative Review of Free Radicals and Reactive Oxygen Species in Otitis Media

Many studies have evaluated the roles of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in various diseases. To date, however, no systematic review has specifically investigated the involvement of free radicals and ROS in acute otitis media (OM), OM with effusion, and chronic OM. The present study therefore assessed the roles of free radicals and ROS in OM. SCOPUS, PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were comprehensively searched to identify studies assessing the roles of free radicals and ROS in OM. Relevant studies were identified and their findings summarized. The literature search identified 21 studies. A review of their findings showed that the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), lipid hydroperoxide (LPO), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were elevated in patients with acute OM; that the concentrations of H2O2, LPO, MPO, xanthine oxidase (XO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), malondialdehyde (MDA), hydroxyl radical (·OH), and nitrotyrosine were elevated in patients with OM with effusion; and that the levels of nitric oxide (NO), MPO, 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were elevated in patients with chronic OM. Although some studies reported that SOD levels were increased in patients with OM with effusion, decreases in antioxidants such as SOD and catalase, as well as total antioxidant capacity, were observed across all types of OM. Although the levels of free radicals and ROS varied by type of OM, study design, control group selection, sample type, ROS and free radical markers, and antioxidant types, most studies showed increased ROS and decreased antioxidants in OM patients. These findings suggest that levels of free radicals and ROS are strongly associated with the pathophysiology of OM.

Clinical significance of T helper-1/T helper-2 cytokines in peripheral blood of children with otitis media with effusion and allergic rhinitis

OBJECTIVE

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a prevalent and costly disease, especially in children. This article analyzed the expression patterns and clinical significance of T helper-1 (Th1)/Th2 cytokines in the peripheral blood of children with OME and allergic rhinitis (AR).

METHODS

Subjects were assigned to the OME + AR group and the Control group (children with OME), with their clinical baseline data documented. The correlations between Th1/Th2 cytokines and between the total nasal symptom score (TNSS) and Th1/Th2 cytokines were analyzed. The risk factors and the predictive value of Th1/Th2 cytokines for OME + AR were analyzed using logistics multivariate regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve.

RESULTS

Significant differences were observed in tympanic pressure/speech frequency/air conduction valve/TNSS score/immunoglobulin E (IgE) level between both groups. The OME + AR children exhibited evidently elevated interleukin-2 (IL-2)/tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)/IL-4/IL-10/IL-6 levels and no significant difference in interferon-γ (IFN-γ) level. Th1/Th2 cytokines were remarkably positively-correlated with the TNSS score. IL-2/TNF-α/IL-4/IL-6 were risk factors for OME with AR. The area under the curves (AUCs) of IL-6/IL-2/IL-4/TNF-α levels in predicting the occurrence of OME + AR were 0.805/0.806/0.775/0.781, with sensitivities of 75.76 %/89.39 %/72.21 %/72.73 % and specificities of 74.29 %/61.34 %/72.86 %/70.00 %, and the cut-off values were 239.600/20.300/29.880/34.800 (pg/mL). The AUC of their combination in predicting OME + AR was 0.955 (93.94 % sensitivity, 85.71 % specificity).

CONCLUSION

Th1/Th2 cytokine levels were imbalanced and obviously positively-correlated with the TNSS score in OME + AR children. IL-2, TNF-α, IL-4, and IL-6 levels had auxiliary predictive value in the occurrence of OME + AR.

Otitis media: Interactions between host and environment, immune and inflammatory responses

OBJECTIVE

To review and highlight progress in otitis media (OM) research in the areas of immunology, inflammation, environmental influences and host-pathogen responses from 2019 to 2023. Opportunities for innovative future research were also identified.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed database of the National Library of Medicine.

REVIEW METHODS

Key topics were assigned to each panel member for detailed review. Search of the literature was from June 2019 until February 2023. Draft reviews were collated, circulated, and discussed among panel members at the 22nd International Symposium on Recent Advances in Otitis Media in June 2023. The final manuscript was prepared and approved by all the panel members.

CONCLUSIONS

Important advances were identified in: environmental influences that enhance OM susceptibility; polymicrobial middle ear (ME) infections; the role of adaptive immunity defects in otitis-proneness; additional genes linked to OM; leukocyte contributions to OM pathogenesis and recovery; and novel interventions in OM based on host responses to infection. Innovative areas of research included: identification of novel bacterial genes and pathways important for OM persistence, bacterial adaptations and evolution that enhance chronicity; animal and human ME gene expression, including at the single-cell level; and Sars-CoV-2 infection of the ME and Eustachian tube.

Immunological profiles of children with recurrent otitis media with or without spontaneous tympanic membrane perforation and of children with recurrent respiratory infections

OBJECTIVES

The primary aim of this study was to compare the immunological profiles of children affected by recurrent acute otitis media (rAOM) with and without spontaneous tympanic membrane perforation (STMP). The secondary aim was to compare immunological features of children without parameters outside the normal range and affected by either rAOM or recurrent respiratory tract infections (rRTI).

METHODS

In this study, otherwise healthy children (<10 years of age) with rAOM or rRTI were included. Data on perinatal history, vaccination status, presence of risk factors for rAOM or rRTI (including personal or family history of allergy) and number of infectious episodes in the previous 12 months were retrospectively obtained. Furthermore, data on immunological profile (blood cell count, circulating IgA, IgG, IgM and total IgE, IgG subclasses and lymphocyte subpopulations) were collected. The immune profile of children affected by rAOM with and without STMP were compared. Among children with parameters within normal range, we compared the levels of the immunological parameters of children affected by rAOM (with and without STMP) and rRTI.

RESULTS

The study involved a total of 751 children: 566 (75.3%) with rAOM and 185 (24.7%) with rRTI. Among the 566 children with rAOM, 39.7% had uncomplicated rAOM and 60.3% had rAOM with STMP. The mean age of the study population was 34.9 (SD 20.5) months. The frequency of children with parameters outside the normal range was similar among children with rAOM with (4.9%) and without STMP (6.1%). Among subjects without parameters outside the normal range, children with uncomplicated rAOM had significantly lower serum IgG, lymphocyte CD8⁺ and CD19⁺ and significantly higher IgG2 levels than children affected by rAOM with STMP. Finally, children with rAOM had lower levels of IgA, IgM and IgG2 and higher levels of IgG, lymphocyte CD19⁺ and CD16/56+ compared to children with rRTI.

CONCLUSIONS

A low (<6.5%) percentage of children with rAOM with or without STMP present parameters outside the normal range. Among subjects without parameters outside the normal range, children with uncomplicated rAOM have a different immune profile as compared to those with STMP and rRTI. New prospective studies are needed to further explore the immune features of children affected by rAOM with and without STMP.

Interleukin-33 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin are primary cytokines involved in the Th1/Th2 inflammatory response in chronic secretory otitis media

Background:

T-helper (Th)1/Th2 inflammatory responses are responsible for secretory otitis media (SOM) development. However, the mechanisms underlying these immune responses remain unknown. This study aims to identify the primary cytokines that play essential roles in chronic SOM.

Methods:

Two groups were established for the present study: chronic SOM group ( n = 21) and control group ( n = 10). The middle ear effusion and serum samples of the expression cytokines (interleukin IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-17, IL-25, IL-33, interferon [IFN]-γ, thymic stromal lymphopoietin [TSLP], immunoglobulin IgE, and pepsins) were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results:

The levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-17, IL-25, IFN-γ, TLSP, pepsins, IL-2, and IL-33 (all, p < 0.001) were higher in middle ear effusion, when compared to those in serum, in chronic SOM group (non-paired sample). However, there was no significant difference in serum expression for those cytokines compared chronic SOM group and control group. The paired sample expression for IL-33 and TLSP (both, p = 0.046) were higher compared the effusion and serum in chronic SOM group.

Conclusions:

IL-33 produces inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1b, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-4, and TGF-β, which through nucleus into cytoplasm causing inflammatory responses. The present study revealed that IL-33 also produce IL-17, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 inflammatory factors, triggering an inflammatory response. Study reported that the combined stimulation of TSLP and IL-33 elicits an approximately 10-fold increase in cytokine production, when compared to the stimulation of IL-33 alone. This suggests that IL-33 and TLSP may be the primary cytokines involved in Th1/Th2 inflammatory responses in chronic SOM.

Cytokines and Exhaled Nitric Oxide Are Risk Factors in Preterm Infants for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common complication of extremely preterm birth. This study was aimed at detecting cytokine and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels to evaluate their mechanisms and predicted significance for BPD. Preterm infants born at gestational age ≤ 32 weeks were recruited, and clinical data were collected. We detected ten cytokines, including IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α on Days 1–3, Days 7–14, and Days 21–28 after birth by using the Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) technology. The FeNO levels of infants were measured when they met the discharge criteria. A total of 46 preterm infants were enrolled, consisting of 14 infants in BPD group and 32 infants in the control group. The gestational age (27.5 ± 1.3 vs. 29.9 ± 1.3 weeks) and birth weight (1021 ± 261 g vs. 1489 ± 357 g) were lower in the BPD group. The following were high-risk factors for BPD, as determined by multivariate logistic regression analysis: gestational age < 30 weeks, birth weight < 1000 g, PDA, longer mechanical ventilation, and higher FeNO. The cytokines of IL-6 and IL-8 on Days 7–14 and IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α on Days 21–28 were also high-risk factors for BPD. IL-6 contributed to BPD disease severity. Conclusion. The preterm infants with PDA and prolonged mechanical ventilation tended to develop BPD. The IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly increased on Days 7–14 and were high-risk factors for BPD. Moreover, the IL-6 level was associated with BPD disease severity. We speculated that NO was related to BPD via Th2 cell-mediated inflammatory responses such as IL-4 and IL-6. Cytokines might predict the occurrence of BPD.