INTERLEUKIN-8 GENE-EXPRESSION IN MIDDLE-EAR EFFUSIONS

Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a monocyte- and macrophage-derived cytokine, dis plays potent chemotactic-activating properties toward neutrophils, and thus may contribute to the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion (OME). The objective of this investigation was to demonstrate the exp ression of the IL-8 gene in middle ear effusions (MEEs) of children an d adults with OME. Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) were extracted from MEEs f rom 16 ears of 13 pediatric patients and 12 ears of 12 adult patients with OME. The RNAs were reverse-transcribed and amplified by the polym erase chain reaction. Interleukin-8 transcripts were detected in 75% o f both pediatric (12/16) and adult MEEs (9/12). The levels of expressi on of IL-8 and beta-actin messenger RNAs were quantitated. No signific ant difference was observed in IL-8/beta-actin ratios between pediatri c MEEs and adult MEEs. These data suggest that IL-8 may contribute to neutrophil involvement in both pediatric and adult OME.