Production of cytokines by mononuclear cells of hypertrophic adenoids in children with otitis media with effusion.

Hypertrophic adenoids with otitis media with effusion is a common infectious disease and present a serious otological problem in children. Cytokines, potent inflammatory mediators, play important role in the initiation of immunological response in otitis media. Adenoids excised due to hypertrophy with or without chronic otitis media with effusion were used to isolate mononuclear cells. Secretion of cytokines by non-stimulated and PHA-stimulated cells was determined by specific ELISAs. We found a significant increase in the production of IL-5 and TNF-α secreted by adenoidal cells of children with otitis media with effusion compared to group with hypertrophic adenoids. No differences were found in the secretion of IL-8, IL-6, and IL-10 between these two groups of patients. Our results suggest a difference between the immunological responses in the course of hypertrophic adenoids with otitis media as compared to hypertrophic adenoids.