APOE and infectious otitis media: Although we did not assay Stat3 and Nf-κB in the present study, the mRNA expression of Tnf-α, Il-1β, Il-6, Cox-2, and Nos2 was assayed in the colorectum of Apoe-deficient, Ldlr-deficient, and their respective WT mice treated with AOM and DSS.