Lysosomal Thiol Proteases in Middle Ear Effusions

Abstract

Hydrolytic activity of lysosomal cathepsins B and H, and trypsin-like proteases in 115 middle ear effusions (MEEs, 40 serous and 75 mucoid) from chronic otitis media with effusion (OME) patients was measured and compared to that in plasma. The activity of both cathepsins in MEEs was significantly higher than that in plasma (p<0.01), and cathepsin B activity in mucoid MEEs was also significantly higher than that in serous MEEs (p<0.01). The activity of trypsin-like proteases was very weak in both MEEs and plasma. Profiles of various inhibitors indicated the qualitative difference of proteolytic enzymes between MEEs and plasma. Mucoid MEEs had significantly higher activity of thiol proteases than serous ones (p<0.01). Cathepsin B-like lysosomal thiol proteases, derived mainly from macrophages, could become a major proteolytic factor to perpetuate and amplify the inflammatory reaction of chronic OME.