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Updated: May 31, 2026

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
05:31

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Published on: August 7, 2017

Effect of fluticasone furoate on interleukin 6 secretion from adenoid tissues in children with obstructive sleep

Rania Esteitie1, Janaki Emani, Shilpy Sharma

  • 1Section of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Chicago Medical Center, IL 60637, USA.

Archives of Otolaryngology--Head & Neck Surgery
|June 22, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Intranasal corticosteroid therapy reduced the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 in adenoid tissue of children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. This finding suggests a potential mechanism for how these nasal sprays help treat childhood sleep apnea.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Otolaryngology
  • Immunology
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children is associated with inflammation in adenoid tissues.
  • T-regulatory cells and cytokines play a role in the inflammatory processes of OSAS.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of intranasal corticosteroid therapy on T-regulatory cells and inflammatory cytokines in the adenoid tissue of children diagnosed with OSAS.
  • To assess whether fluticasone furoate nasal spray affects key inflammatory markers.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, prospective study involving 24 children (ages 2-12) with OSAS undergoing adenotonsillectomy.
  • Participants received either fluticasone furoate nasal spray or no treatment for two weeks prior to surgery.
  • Adenoid tissue was analyzed for T-regulatory cells (FOXP3, CD4, CD25) and cytokines (IL-10, IL-6, TGF-β).

Main Results:

  • Fluticasone furoate nasal spray treatment led to a significant reduction in spontaneous and stimulated IL-6 release from adenoid tissue.
  • No significant differences were observed in the counts of T-regulatory cells (CD4/FOXP3, CD25/FOXP3) or transforming growth factor-β.
  • Immunohistochemical staining for IL-10 showed comparable results between the treated and untreated groups.

Conclusions:

  • Intranasal fluticasone furoate therapy effectively reduces the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 in adenoid tissue of children with OSAS.
  • This reduction in IL-6 may contribute to the observed clinical benefits of intranasal corticosteroids in managing childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
Abstract

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