General conclusions about the role of IL-2 and IL-10 in an aetiology of OME Both cytokines, IL-2 and IL-10, participate in balanced immunoregulation of the middle ear inflammatory response. IL-2 up-regulates cellular and molecular events, accompanying acute inflammation, whereas IL-10 down-regulates acute inflammatory reactions and promotes resolution of inflammation. Any imbalance in production of these cytokines will induce chronic inflammatory processes (cellmediated or humoral, or both) or stimulate uncontrolled inflammatory-related damage of the middle ear tissues (Figs 3 and 4) . Thus, IL-2 and IL-10 can be considered as the key cytokine mediators, regulating switching of the acute phase of middle ear inflammation in the chronic stage, which will lead to the chronic condition of OME.