The role of periostin in eosinophilic otitis media

Abstract

Conclusion: We investigated the localization of periostin in middle ear specimens from patients with eosinophilic otitis media (EOM) and from a newly constructed animal model for EOM. Periostin-positive immunostaining was observed in the middle ear sections obtained from the EOM patients. Immunoreactivity for periostin was also seen in the animal model. These results suggest that periostin plays an important role in subepithelial fibrosis in the middle ear in EOM. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of periostin in the middle ear of EOM patients and an animal model. Methods: Histological and immunohistochemical analyses for periostin were carried out in the middle ear specimens of six EOM patients with/without asthma. An animal model of EOM was constructed by intraperitoneal and topical sensitization with ovalbumin (OVA). Histological and immunocytochemical analyses for periostin were also performed in this model. Results: Immunoreactivities for periostin were observed in the basement membrane and extracellular matrix of the middle ear sections obtained from all EOM patients with/without asthma. In the animal model, eosinophil infiltration and middle ear mucosa thickness were observed. Moreover, periostin-positive immunostaining was shown in the extracellular matrix of the middle ear mucosa on the side topically boosted by OVA.

Keywords::

• Subepithelial fibrosis
• animal model
• immunoreactivity
• middle ear
• bronchial asthma
• remodeling

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Professor A. Kurose for his helpful comments. We also extend our thanks to E. Mizuki for technical assistance. This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture of Japan.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.