RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To analyze the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor (p27) and c-fos in human middle ear cholesteatomas and to investigate the correlation between their expression and the ability of erosion of cholesteatoma. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining (SP method) of 31 cholesteatomas and 11 external ear canal skin samples from patients and 10 external ear canal skin samples from healthful men which were taken intraoperatively, was performed for c-fos, TGF-beta1 and p27 positivity. The signals representing the expression of c-fos, TGF-beta1 and p27 were observed under microscope and scanned into a computer by an image scanner. The gray-scale of positive signals were quantitated by image processing computer. RESULTS: The percentage of positive expression of TGF-beta1 and c-fos in cholesteatoma were 87.1% and 83.9%, respectively. Their expression tended to be increased greatly compared with which in the skins of the control groups. Positive p27 signals were not observed in cholesteatomas and external ear skin tissues. It showed statistically significant correlation between expression of c-fos and the ability of erosion of cholesteatoma. There was correlation between the express ion of TGF-beta1 and the ability of erosion of cholesteatoma too. But there was no correlation between the expression of c-fos and TGF-beta1. CONCLUSION: The expression of c-fos in cholesteatoma was significally higher compared with which in the skin of external auditory of cholesteatoma patients and healthful men, which indicate that c-fos plays an important role in the hyperproliferative of cholesteatoma. The expression of TGF-beta1 was significant higher in cholesteatoma, which indicate that cytokines such as TGF-beta1 play a great role in the etiology of cholesteatoma.
