Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the regulation of mucin secretion by middle ear epithelia.
STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Primary chinchilla middle ear epithelial cultures were established and exposed to IL-1β in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Mucin secretion was characterized by exclusion chromatography and liquid scintillation.
RESULTS: Epithelial cultures exposed to increasing doses of IL-1β demonstrated greater amounts of mucin secretion (P = 0.007). Additionally, cultures exposed to IL-1β at 50 ng/mL showed increased secretion of mucin over control noticeable at 6 hours, but significant at the 15- and 24-hour time points (P > .0001 for each).
CONCLUSIONS: IL-1β upregulates mucin secretion from cultured middle ear epithelial cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner.
SIGNIFICANCE: Elucidating the effect of specific cytokines on the regulation of mucin secretion is vital to understanding the pathophysiology of otitis media and the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
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