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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
Mucosal immunity of the middle ear: analysis at the single cell level
Objective:
Studies have suggested that the middle ear is a potential site of immunological regulation and that the middle ear mucosa constitutes a part of the mucosal immune system. We clarify the characteristics of the middle ear mucosa with respect to immune potential.
Study Design:
We investigated lymphocyte subsets, mRNA of cytokines, and induction of antigen-specific IgA-producing cells in the middle ear mucosa in specific pathogen-free C57BL/6 mice.
Results:
Flow cytometric analysis showed a certain amount (10%-15%) of gammadelta T cells among CD3+ T cells. P6-specific IgA-producing cells were induced by intranasal immunization with P6 together with cholera toxin. RT-PCR assay of mucosal T cells detected mRNA of Th2 type cytokines such as IL-5 and IL-10.
Conclusion:
These findings support the fact that the middle ear is potentially an effector site of the mucosal immunity.
