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High concentrations of middle ear antimicrobial peptides and proteins and proinflammatory cytokines are associated with detection of middle ear pathogens in children with recurrent acute otitis media

Authors :
Elke J. Seppanen
Ruth B. Thornton
Karli J. Corscadden
Peter Jacoby
Julie Hibbert
Caitlyn Granland
Lea-Ann S. Kirkham
Shyan Vijayasekaran
Peter Richmond
Harvey Coates
Andrew J. Currie
Selma P. Wiertsema
Angela Fuery
Source :
PLoS ONE, Vol 14, Iss 12, p e0227080 (2019), PLoS ONE
Publication Year :
2019
Publisher :
Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2019.

Abstract

Recurrent and chronic otitis media (OM) are often refractory to antibiotics due to bacterial persistence in biofilm within the middle ear. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that antimicrobial proteins and peptides (AMPs) are bactericidal against otopathogens, indicating potential therapeutic value for recalcitrant OM. We measured concentrations of 6 AMPs and 14 cytokines in middle ear effusion (MEE) from 67 children undergoing ventilation tube insertion for recurrent acute OM. Sixty one percent of children had bacterial otopathogens detected in their MEE, 39% by PCR and 22% by PCR and culture. Groups were defined as: PCR-negative/culture-negative (absence of bacterial otopathogen), n = 26; PCR-positive/culture-negative (presence of nonculturable bacterial otopathogen), n = 26; PCR-positive/culture-positive (presence of culturable bacterial otopathogen), n = 15. Age, antibiotic usage, day-care attendance, presence of respiratory viruses in MEE and number of AOM episodes were similar between groups. AMP and cytokine concentrations were higher in children with bacterial otopathogens in their MEE compared to those with no bacterial otopathogens. Median concentrations of AMPs (except HBD2) were 3 to 56-fold higher in MEE from children with bacterial otopathogens detected in their MEE (P ≤ 0.01). Similarly, median cytokine concentrations (except TGFβ) were >16-fold higher in MEE with bacterial otopathogens detected (P ≤ 0.001). This is the first study to measure AMPs in MEE and together with the cytokine data, results suggest that elevated AMPs and cytokines in MEE are a marker of inflammation and bacterial persistence. AMPs may play an important role in OM pathogenesis.

Details

ISSN :
19326203
Volume :
14
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
PLOS ONE
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....f9af9188bb3fb6e90e8d825b03ca88ad