Allergy and autoinflammation drive persistent systemic inflammatory response in Meniere Disease: A longitudinal study

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Meniere disease (MD) is an inner ear disorder with complex etiology.
• Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of Meniere disease, but its drivers remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether allergy or autoinflammation drives inflammation in Meniere disease patients.
• To identify distinct immunophenotypes within the Meniere disease population.

Main Methods:

• A 2-year longitudinal study involving 72 Meniere disease patients.
• Measurement of plasma cytokine and chemokine levels.
• Analysis of macrophage polarization and upstream cytokine release events.

Main Results:

• Four distinct patient groups were identified based on inflammatory profiles: Autoimmune (TNF-α), Allergic (IgE, M2 polarization), Autoinflammatory (IL-1β), and Low cytokine.
• Allergic responses and IL-1β-mediated autoinflammation were significant drivers.
• A notable overlap was observed, with 36% of allergic patients also exhibiting high IL-1β.

Conclusions:

• Meniere disease exhibits diverse immunophenotypes, including allergy-driven and autoinflammatory pathways.
• Biomarker-guided targeting of specific inflammatory pathways (IgE, IL-1β) holds promise for optimizing Meniere disease treatment.
• Further research into these immunophenotypes can improve patient outcomes.