Expression of aquaporins mRNAs in patients with otitis media

Objective: This study analyzed the associations between measured levels of aquaporin (AQP) mRNAs and clinical manifestations in patients with various types of otitis media (OM). Methods: AQP1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10 mRNA levels were assayed by real-time PCR from 57 patients with chronic otitis media (COM), 24 patients with cholesteatomatous otitis media (choleOM), and 82 patients with otitis media with effusion (OME). The relationships of these mRNA levels with the presence of bacteria, the type of hearing loss, and clinical manifestations of OM types were evaluated. Results: All eight AQP mRNAs were expressed in inflammatory tissue, chole matrix, and effusion fluid obtained from all 163 patients with OM. The levels in OME of AQP2, 4, 6, and 10 mRNA; and the levels in choleOM of AQP1, 3, 4, and 10 mRNA were elevated significantly compared to the corresponding levels in COM (p < .05). The expression level of AQP8 mRNA did not differ among OM types. Among samples positive for bacterial culture, AQP1 mRNA was significantly higher in OME than in COM and choleOM, AQP5 mRNA was significantly lower in OME than in COM and choleOM, and AQP10 mRNA was significantly higher in OME and choleOM than in COM (p < .05). Conclusions: The levels of expression of AQP mRNA are associated with the pathophysiology of OM.