osteoprotegerin and Cholesteatoma

One of the most distinct features of middle ear cholesteatoma is bone destruction. Aetiology of cholesteatoma is thought to be multifactorial. Endotoxins produced by bacteria are thought to initiate the inflammation process in the middle ear leading to cholesteatoma. There are physiological differences in bone metabolism between men and women. The aim of our study was the immunohistochemical evaluation of the contents of two key components of the OPG/RANK/RANKL triad-RANKL and OPG in cholesteatoma, to analyse if there are any differences between the sexes and to evaluate the bacteria species isolated from cholesteatoma just before surgical treatment and to evaluate their plausible influence on the expression of OPG and RANKL in cholesteatoma. Twenty-one adult patients with acquired cholesteatoma who underwent surgery were analysed. There were no statistically significant differences in the expression of both regulators of osteoclastogenesis between the sexes. In 38.1 % patients cholesteatoma was not infected, whereas in 61.9 % patients various bacterial infections or mycosis were found. The most frequently isolated species was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14.29 % infections) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (9.52 % infections). There were no statistically significant differences in expression of both OPG and RANKL between uninfected and infected cholesteatomas.

Topics: Adult; Bacterial Infections; Bone and Bones; Cholesteatoma; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Inflammation; Male; Middle Aged; Osteoclasts; Osteogenesis; Osteoprotegerin; Pilot Projects; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; RANK Ligand; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; Staphylococcus aureus

To observe the expression of receptor activator nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in cholesteatoma and to determine their roles in the destruction of bone. To observe the role of osteoclasts in bone destruction.. Immunohistochemical technique and computer image analysis were used to examine the expression of RANKL and OPG in 27 cholesteatoma and 11 normal tissue respectively.. RANKL was expressed mainly in promatrix cells, including fibroblasts and foam cells. OPG was expressed both in epithelium and promatrix cells. The results of the computer image quantitative analysis showed that the mean optical density of RANKL and the ratio of RANKL/OPG in cholesteatoma were higher than that in normal skin epithelial tissue (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the mean optical density of OPG in cholesteatoma and that in normal skin epithelial tissue (P>0.05).. The overexpression of RANKL and the increased ratio of RANKL/OPG in cholesteatoma are associated with the destruction of bone. Osteoclasts is possible mediator of osteolysis.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cholesteatoma; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Osteoclasts; Osteoprotegerin; RANK Ligand; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B; Young Adult