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Comparison of Autophagy mRNA Expression between Chronic Otitis Media With and Without Cholesteatoma
Junyang Jung1, Su Young Jung2, Myung Gu Kim3
1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, KyungHee University, Seoul, Korea.
Background And Objectives:
Autophagy is known to be associated with pathogen infection. However, the expression of autophagy-related proteins has not been studied in chronic otitis media without cholesteatoma (COM) or with cholesteatoma (CholeOM). This study aimed to determine whether there is a difference between COM and CholeOM in autophagy-related gene mRNA expression.
Subjects And Methods:
For 47 patients with chronic otitis media, the inflammatory tissues were classified into granulation tissue (COM) or cholesteatoma (CholeOM) according to biopsy results.
Results:
PI3K mRNA expression (COM vs. CholeOM, mean±SD, 0.009±0.010 vs. 0.003±0.004; p=0.004) was lower, whereas Beclin-1 mRNA expression (0.089±0.107 vs. 0.176±0.163; p=0.034) was higher in the CholeOM group. Expression of PI3K mRNA in the CholeOM group was lower than that in the COM subgroups with presence of bacteria (0.022±0.019 vs. 0.001±0.001; p=0.001), otorrhea (0.049±0.068 vs. 0.003±0.004; p=0.004), and hearing loss over 40 dB (0.083±0.130 vs. 0.003±0.004; p=0.005).
Conclusions:
The data suggested that different autophagy proteins play important roles in chronic otitis media according to the presence or absence of cholesteatoma.
Insights
Autophagy gene expression differs in chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma (CholeOM) versus without (COM). PI3K mRNA was lower, and Beclin-1 mRNA was higher in CholeOM, suggesting distinct roles in disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Otolaryngology
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Autophagy is implicated in pathogen infection responses.
- Autophagy-related protein expression is uncharacterized in chronic otitis media (COM) with or without cholesteatoma (CholeOM).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differential autophagy-related gene mRNA expression between COM and CholeOM.
- To elucidate the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of COM and CholeOM.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 47 chronic otitis media patient tissue samples.
- Classification of tissues into granulation tissue (COM) or cholesteatoma (CholeOM) via biopsy.
- Quantification of autophagy-related gene mRNA expression (PI3K, Beclin-1) using RT-qPCR.
Main Results:
- PI3K mRNA expression was significantly lower in CholeOM compared to COM (p=0.004).
- Beclin-1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in CholeOM compared to COM (p=0.034).
- PI3K mRNA levels in CholeOM were lower across COM subgroups with bacteria, otorrhea, and significant hearing loss.
Conclusions:
- Autophagy-related proteins exhibit differential expression patterns in COM versus CholeOM.
- These findings suggest distinct roles for autophagy in the presence or absence of cholesteatoma in chronic otitis media.
