Abstract:Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a non-suppurative disease of the middle ear characterized by conductive deafness and tympanic effusion. OME occurs frequently in winter and spring, which is one of the common causes of hearing loss in children and adults. The disease course of some patients is too long, eventually leading to adhesion otitis media, cholesteatoma and other lesions, the formation of irreversible hearing damage. The occurrence and development of OME is mainly related to eustachian tube dysfunction, middle ear local infection and allergy. However, its pathological mechanism is still unclear. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) is a new mechanism of neutrophil to capture and kill pathogens, which is involved in the occurrence and development of circulation, respiration, tumor and autoimmune diseases. And as new therapeutic targets, NETs inhibitors have made some progress in the treatment of these diseases. Previous studies have found NETs related proteins in middle ear effusion of OME patients or animal models. These studies have suggested that NETs are also involved in the progression of OME disease. This paper reviewed the role of NETs in OME and its research progress.
