Objectives: The role of autophagy in the pathophysiology of otitis media with effusion (OME) remains unclear, particularly regarding the difference between pediatric and adult patients. The present study analyzed the expression levels of autophagy-associated mRNAs in effusion fluids obtained from pediatric and adult patients with OME.
Materials and methods: Middle ear fluid samples were collected from 76 pediatric patients and 41 adult patients with OME, and the levels of mRNAs encoding autophagy-related genes were measured using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The relationships between the levels of autophagy-associated mRNAs and the frequency of ventilation tube insertion, the characteristics of middle ear fluid, and the results of bacterial culture were analyzed.
Results: Autophagy-associated mRNAs were present in the effusion fluid of all patients. The level of Beclin-1 mRNA was significantly lower in pediatric than in adult patients, regardless of the frequency of surgery or fluid characteristics (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Autophagy-associated mRNAs were expressed in effusion fluids of both pediatric and adult patients with OME. However, the level of Beclin-1 mRNA was significantly lower in the effusion fluid of pediatric than adult patients.