| OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of intranasal corticosteroid
therapy on T-regulatory cells and other inflammatory cytokines in
adenoid tissues in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
DESIGN: Randomized, prospective, exploratory study. SETTING: Academic
pediatric otolaryngology practice in a tertiary care children's
hospital. PATIENTS: Participants included 24 children between the ages
of 2 and 12 years who were undergoing adenotonsillectomy for
polysomnogram-documented obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. INTERVENTION:
Children were randomized to either no treatment (n = 13) or treatment
with fluticasone furoate nasal spray, 55 mug/nostril daily (n = 11), for
2 weeks before adenotonsillectomy. Adenoid tissue was obtained at the
time of the procedure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The number of tissue
T-regulatory cells, as determined by staining with FOXP3, CD4, and CD25,
was the primary outcome measure. Staining for interleukin (IL)-10 and
transforming growth factor-beta protein by immunohistochemistry, and
adenoid mononuclear cell spontaneous and induced release of cytokines
(IL-10, IL-6, IL-12, IL-13, tumor necrosis factor, and transforming
growth factor beta) were secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Cells isolated
from fluticasone furoate nasal spray-treated adenoid tissue released
significantly less IL-6 spontaneously as well as upon stimulation with
anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (P = .05) compared with nontreated adenoid
tissue. There were no significant differences in the number of
CD4/FOXP3-, CD25/FOXP3-, or transforming growth factor beta-positive
cells. Intensity of staining for IL-10 was also comparable between the
groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we show reduction of IL-6, a
proinflammatory cytokine, in adenoid tissue obtained from children with
obstructive sleep apnea syndrome treated with fluticasone furoate nasal
spray. This reduction could contribute to the clinical efficacy of this
class of medications in the treatment of childhood obstructive sleep
apnea syndrome. |