Expression and Clinical Significance of Transforming Growth Factor β1 and Transforming Growth Factorβ2 in Middle Ear Effusions in Secretory Otitis Media

Abstract：Objective To investigate the role of transforming growth factor β1( TGF - β1)and transforming growth factor β2(TGF - β2)in the pathogenesis of secretory otitis media(SOM). Methods The expression levels of TGF - β1 and TGF - β2 in middle ear effusions(MEEs)and blood plasma were measured in 56 patients(61 ears)with SOM as well as 32 normal volunteers using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Results The positive rates of TGF - β1 and TGF - β2 in MEEs and plasma in SOM patients as well as normal plasma were all 100% . The con-centration of TGF - β1 in MEEs in patients with acute SOM was significantly lower than that in patients with chronic SOM(P ﹤ 0. 05). The concentration of TGF - β2 in MEEs in patients with acute SOM was significantly higher than that in patients with chronic SOM(P ﹤ 0. 05). There was no significant difference in the concentration of TGF - β1 in plasma between patients with acute SOM and normal volunteers(P ﹥ 0. 05). There was significant difference in the concentration of TGF - β2 in plasma between patients with acute SOM and normal volunteers(P ﹤ 0. 05). There was significant difference in the concentration of TGF - β1 in plasma between patients with chronic SOM and normal vol-unteers(P ﹤ 0. 05). There was no significant difference in the concentration of TGF - β2 in plasma between patients with acute SOM and normal volunteers(P ﹥ 0. 05). Conclusion TGF - β1 and TGF - β2 both participate in patho-genesis of SOM. TGF - β1 may play a role in the chronic course of SOM and TGF - β2 may be an important role in the early stage of SOM.