Middle ear epithelial mucin production in response to interleukin 1beta exposure in vitro.

Abstract

To investigate the role of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) 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-1beta in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Mucin secretion was characterized by exclusion chromatography and liquid scintillation. Epithelial cultures exposed to increasing doses of IL-1beta demonstrated greater amounts of mucin secretion (P = 0.007). Additionally, cultures exposed to IL-1beta 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). IL-1beta upregulates mucin secretion from cultured middle ear epithelial cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. 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.