Nielsen Michelle Christine, Friis Morten, Martin-Bertelsen Tomas, Winther Ole, Friis-Hansen Lennart, Cayé-Thomasen Per
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Department of Biology and Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Science, The Bioinformatics Centre, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2016 Jan;273(1):81-6. doi: 10.1007/s00405-015-3493-0. Epub 2015 Jan 7.
Otitis media is a common disease in childhood. In adults, the disease is relatively rare, but more frequently associated with complications. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are age-related differences in pathogen exposure, anatomy of the Eustachian tube and immune system. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between age and the mucosal immune system in the middle ear. It is hypothesized that genes involved in the middle ear immune system will change with age. A comprehensive assessment of these genetic differences using the techniques of complementary DNA has not been performed. Complementary DNA microarray technology was used to identify immune-related genes differentially expressed between the normal middle ear mucosa of young (10 days old) and adult rats (80 days old). Data were analyzed using tools of bioinformatics. A total of 260 age-related genes were identified, of which 51 genes were involved in the middle ear mucosal immune system. Genes related to the innate immune system, including alpha-defensin, calcium-binding proteins S100A9 and S100A8, were upregulated in young rats, whereas genes related to the adaptive immune system, including CD3 molecules, zeta-chain T-cell receptor-associated protein kinase and linker of activated T-cells, were upregulated in the adult. This study concludes that the normal middle ear immune system changes with age. Genes related to the innate immune system are upregulated in young rats, whereas genes related to the adaptive immune system are upregulated in adults.
中耳炎是儿童期的常见疾病。在成人中，该疾病相对少见，但更常伴有并发症。这种差异的可能原因是病原体暴露、咽鼓管解剖结构和免疫系统方面的年龄相关差异。本研究的目的是分析年龄与中耳黏膜免疫系统之间的关系。据推测，中耳免疫系统中涉及的基因会随年龄变化。尚未使用互补DNA技术对这些基因差异进行全面评估。利用互补DNA微阵列技术来鉴定在幼年（10日龄）和成年大鼠（80日龄）正常中耳黏膜之间差异表达的免疫相关基因。使用生物信息学工具分析数据。共鉴定出260个与年龄相关的基因，其中51个基因参与中耳黏膜免疫系统。与固有免疫系统相关的基因，包括α-防御素、钙结合蛋白S100A9和S100A8，在幼年大鼠中上调，而与适应性免疫系统相关的基因，包括CD3分子、ζ链T细胞受体相关蛋白激酶和活化T细胞连接蛋白，在成年大鼠中上调。本研究得出结论，正常中耳免疫系统随年龄变化。与固有免疫系统相关的基因在幼年大鼠中上调，而与适应性免疫系统相关的基因在成年大鼠中上调。
