The Human Endolymphatic Sac and Inner Ear Immunity: Macrophage Interaction and Molecular Expression.

ABSTRACT: Background: The endolymphatic sac (ES) is endowed with a multitude of white blood cells that may trap and process antigens that reach the inner ear from nearby infection-prone areas, it thus serves as an immunologic defense organ. The human ES, and unexpectedly the rest of the inner ear, has been recently shown to contain numerous resident macrophages. In this paper, we describe ES macrophages using super-resolution structured fluorescence microscopy (SR-SIM) and speculate on these macrophages' roles in human inner ear defense. Material and Methods: After ethical permission was obtained, human vestibular aqueducts were collected during trans-labyrinthine surgery for acoustic neuroma removal. Tissues were placed in fixative before being decalcified, rapidly frozen, and cryosta

SUBMITTER: Kampfe Nordstrom C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6367985 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature