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Plontke SK, Girndt M, Meisner C, Fischer I, Böselt I, Löhler J, Ludwig-Kraus B, Richter M, Steighardt J, Reuter B, Böttcher C, Langer J, Pethe W, Seiwerth I, Jovanovic N, Großmann W, Kienle-Gogolok A, Boehm A, Neudert M, Diensthuber M, Müller A, Dazert S, Guntinas-Lichius O, Hornung J, Vielsmeier V, Stadler J, Rahne T. High-Dose Glucocorticoids for the Treatment of Sudden Hearing Loss. NEJM EVIDENCE 2024; 3:EVIDoa2300172. [PMID: 38320514 DOI: 10.1056/evidoa2300172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Systemic glucocorticoids are commonly used for primary therapy of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). However, the comparative effectiveness and risk profiles of high-dose over lower-dose regimens remain unknown. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients with sudden hearing loss of greater than or equal to 50 dB within 7 days from onset to receive either 5 days of high-dose intravenous prednisolone at 250 mg/d (HD-Pred), 5 days of high-dose oral dexamethasone at 40 mg/d (HD-Dex), or, as a control, 5 days of oral prednisolone (Pred-Control) at 60 mg/d followed by 5 days of tapering doses. The primary outcome was the change in hearing threshold (pure tone average) in the three most affected contiguous frequencies from baseline to day 30. Secondary outcomes included speech understanding, tinnitus, communication competence, quality of life, hypertension, and insulin resistance. RESULTS: A total of 325 patients were randomly assigned. Mean change in 3PTAmost affected hearing threshold from baseline to 30 days was 34.2 dB (95% CI, 28.4 to 40.0) in the HD-Pred group, 41.4 dB (95% CI, 35.6 to 47.2) in the HD-Dex group, and 41.0 dB (95% CI, 35.2 to 46.8) in the Pred-Control group (P=0.09 for analysis of variance). There were more adverse events related to trial medication in the HD-Pred (n=73) and HD-Dex (n=76) groups than in the Pred-Control group (n=46). CONCLUSIONS: Systemic high-dose glucocorticoid therapy was not superior to a lower-dose regimen in patients with ISSNHL, and it was associated with a higher risk of side effects. (Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research [BMBF]; EudraCT number, 2015‐002602‐36.)
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan K Plontke
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Medicine Halle, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Matthias Girndt
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Medicine Halle, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Christoph Meisner
- Robert Bosch Society for Medical Research, Robert Bosch Hospital, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Imma Fischer
- Institute for Clinical Epidemiology and Applied Biometry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Iris Böselt
- Coordination Centre for Clinical Trials, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Jan Löhler
- Scientific Institute for Applied Oto-Rhino-Laryngology of the German Professional Association of ENT Surgeons, Bad Bramstedt, Germany
| | - Beatrice Ludwig-Kraus
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Central Laboratory, University Hospital Halle, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Michael Richter
- Coordination Centre for Clinical Trials, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Jörg Steighardt
- Coordination Centre for Clinical Trials, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Bernd Reuter
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Plastic Surgery, SRH Zentralklinikum Suhl, Suhl, Germany
| | - Christoph Böttcher
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Plastic Surgery, SRH Zentralklinikum Suhl, Suhl, Germany
- ENT Practice, Bad Neustadt, Germany
| | - Jörg Langer
- ENT Department, AMEOS Clinic Halberstadt, Halberstadt, Germany
| | - Wolfram Pethe
- ENT Department, AMEOS Clinic Halberstadt, Halberstadt, Germany
| | - Ingmar Seiwerth
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Medicine Halle, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Nebojsa Jovanovic
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Plastic Surgery, University Hospital of Giessen and Marburg, Giessen, Germany
| | - Wilma Großmann
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery "Otto Körner," Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | | | - Andreas Boehm
- ENT Department, Hospital St. Georg gGmbH, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Marcus Neudert
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Technical University Dresden, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marc Diensthuber
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Andreas Müller
- Department Otorhinolaryngology/Plastic Surgery, SRH Wald-Klinikum Gera gGmbH, Gera, Germany
| | - Stefan Dazert
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, St. Elisabeth Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Joachim Hornung
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Veronika Vielsmeier
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Joachim Stadler
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Heinrich-Braun-Klinikum gGmbH, Zwickau, Germany
| | - Torsten Rahne
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Medicine Halle, Halle (Saale), Germany
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Barnes CC, Yee KT, Vetter DE. Conditional Ablation of Glucocorticoid and Mineralocorticoid Receptors from Cochlear Supporting Cells Reveals Their Differential Roles for Hearing Sensitivity and Dynamics of Recovery from Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:3320. [PMID: 36834731 PMCID: PMC9961551 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Endogenous glucocorticoids (GC) are known to modulate basic elements of cochlear physiology. These include both noise-induced injury and circadian rhythms. While GC signaling in the cochlea can directly influence auditory transduction via actions on hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons, evidence also indicates that GC signaling exerts effects via tissue homeostatic processes that can include effects on cochlear immunomodulation. GCs act at both the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). Most cell types in the cochlea express both receptors sensitive to GCs. The GR is associated with acquired sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) through its effects on both gene expression and immunomodulatory programs. The MR has been associated with age-related hearing loss through dysfunction of ionic homeostatic balance. Cochlear supporting cells maintain local homeostatic requirements, are sensitive to perturbation, and participate in inflammatory signaling. Here, we have used conditional gene manipulation techniques to target Nr3c1 (GR) or Nr3c2 (MR) for tamoxifen-induced gene ablation in Sox9-expressing cochlear supporting cells of adult mice to investigate whether either of the receptors sensitive to GCs plays a role in protecting against (or exacerbating) noise-induced cochlear damage. We have selected mild intensity noise exposure to examine the role of these receptors related to more commonly experienced noise levels. Our results reveal distinct roles of these GC receptors for both basal auditory thresholds prior to noise exposure and during recovery from mild noise exposure. Prior to noise exposure, auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were measured in mice carrying the floxed allele of interest and the Cre recombinase transgene, but not receiving tamoxifen injections (defined as control (no tamoxifen treatment), versus conditional knockout (cKO) mice, defined as mice having received tamoxifen injections. Results revealed hypersensitive thresholds to mid- to low-frequencies after tamoxifen-induced GR ablation from Sox9-expressing cochlear supporting cells compared to control (no tamoxifen) mice. GR ablation from Sox9-expressing cochlear supporting cells resulted in a permanent threshold shift in mid-basal cochlear frequency regions after mild noise exposure that produced only a temporary threshold shift in both control (no tamoxifen) f/fGR:Sox9iCre+ and heterozygous f/+GR:Sox9iCre+ tamoxifen-treated mice. A similar comparison of basal ABRs measured in control (no tamoxifen) and tamoxifen-treated, floxed MR mice prior to noise exposure indicated no difference in baseline thresholds. After mild noise exposure, MR ablation was initially associated with a complete threshold recovery at 22.6 kHz by 3 days post-noise. Threshold continued to shift to higher sensitivity over time such that by 30 days post-noise exposure the 22.6 kHz ABR threshold was 10 dB more sensitive than baseline. Further, MR ablation produced a temporary reduction in peak 1 neural amplitude one day post-noise. While supporting cell GR ablation trended towards reducing numbers of ribbon synapses, MR ablation reduced ribbon synapse counts but did not exacerbate noise-induced damage including synapse loss at the experimental endpoint. GR ablation from the targeted supporting cells increased the basal resting number of Iba1-positive (innate) immune cells (no noise exposure) and decreased the number of Iba1-positive cells seven days following noise exposure. MR ablation did not alter innate immune cell numbers at seven days post-noise exposure. Taken together, these findings support differential roles of cochlear supporting cell MR and GR expression at basal, resting conditions and especially during recovery from noise exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles C. Barnes
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
| | - Kathleen T. Yee
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
| | - Douglas E. Vetter
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
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Calis D, Hess M, Marchetta P, Singer W, Modro J, Nelissen E, Prickaerts J, Sandner P, Lukowski R, Ruth P, Knipper M, Rüttiger L. Acute deletion of the central MR/GR steroid receptor correlates with changes in LTP, auditory neural gain, and GC-A cGMP signaling. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1017761. [PMID: 36873102 PMCID: PMC9983609 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1017761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The complex mechanism by which stress can affect sensory processes such as hearing is still poorly understood. In a previous study, the mineralocorticoid (MR) and/or glucocorticoid receptor (GR) were deleted in frontal brain regions but not cochlear regions using a CaMKIIα-based tamoxifen-inducible Cre ERT2/loxP approach. These mice exhibit either a diminished (MRTMXcKO) or disinhibited (GRTMXcKO) auditory nerve activity. In the present study, we observed that mice differentially were (MRTMXcKO) or were not (GRTMXcKO) able to compensate for altered auditory nerve activity in the central auditory pathway. As previous findings demonstrated a link between central auditory compensation and memory-dependent adaptation processes, we analyzed hippocampal paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) and long-term potentiation (LTP). To determine which molecular mechanisms may impact differences in synaptic plasticity, we analyzed Arc/Arg3.1, known to control AMPA receptor trafficking, as well as regulators of tissue perfusion and energy consumption (NO-GC and GC-A). We observed that the changes in PPF of MRTMXcKOs mirrored the changes in their auditory nerve activity, whereas changes in the LTP of MRTMXcKOs and GRTMXcKOs mirrored instead the changes in their central compensation capacity. Enhanced GR expression levels in MRTMXcKOs suggest that MRs typically suppress GR expression. We observed that hippocampal LTP, GC-A mRNA expression levels, and ABR wave IV/I ratio were all enhanced in animals with elevated GR (MRTMXcKOs) but were all lower or not mobilized in animals with impaired GR expression levels (GRTMXcKOs and MRGRTMXcKOs). This suggests that GC-A may link LTP and auditory neural gain through GR-dependent processes. In addition, enhanced NO-GC expression levels in MR, GR, and MRGRTMXcKOs suggest that both receptors suppress NO-GC; on the other hand, elevated Arc/Arg3.1 levels in MRTMXcKOs and MRGRTMXcKOs but not GRTMXcKOs suggest that MR suppresses Arc/Arg3.1 expression levels. Conclusively, MR through GR inhibition may define the threshold for hemodynamic responses for LTP and auditory neural gain associated with GC-A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dila Calis
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Morgan Hess
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Philine Marchetta
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Wibke Singer
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Julian Modro
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ellis Nelissen
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Jos Prickaerts
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Peter Sandner
- Bayer Health Care Pharmaceuticals, Global Drug Discovery Pharma Research Centre Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Robert Lukowski
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter Ruth
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marlies Knipper
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lukas Rüttiger
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Savitska D, Hess M, Calis D, Marchetta P, Harasztosi C, Fink S, Eckert P, Ruth P, Rüttiger L, Knipper M, Singer W. Stress Affects Central Compensation of Neural Responses to Cochlear Synaptopathy in a cGMP-Dependent Way. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:864706. [PMID: 35968392 PMCID: PMC9372611 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.864706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In light of the increasing evidence supporting a link between hearing loss and dementia, it is critical to gain a better understanding of the nature of this relationship. We have previously observed that following cochlear synaptopathy, the temporal auditory processing (e.g., auditory steady state responses, ASSRs), is sustained when reduced auditory input is centrally compensated. This central compensation process was linked to elevated hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP). We further observed that, independently of age, central responsiveness to cochlear synaptopathy can differ, resulting in either a low or high capacity to compensate for the reduced auditory input. Lower central compensation resulted in poorer temporal auditory processing, reduced hippocampal LTP, and decreased recruitment of activity-dependent brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in hippocampal regions (low compensators). Higher central compensation capacity resulted in better temporal auditory processing, higher LTP responses, and increased activity-dependent BDNF expression in hippocampal regions. Here, we aimed to identify modifying factors that are potentially responsible for these different central responses. Strikingly, a poorer central compensation capacity was linked to lower corticosterone levels in comparison to those of high compensators. High compensators responded to repeated placebo injections with elevated blood corticosterone levels, reduced auditory brainstem response (ABR) wave I amplitude, reduced inner hair cell (IHC) ribbon number, diminished temporal processing, reduced LTP responses, and decreased activity-dependent hippocampal BDNF expression. In contrast, the same stress exposure through injection did not elevate blood corticosterone levels in low compensators, nor did it reduce IHC ribbons, ABR wave I amplitude, ASSR, LTP, or BDNF expression as seen in high compensators. Interestingly, in high compensators, the stress-induced responses, such as a decline in ABR wave I amplitude, ASSR, LTP, and BDNF could be restored through the “memory-enhancing” drug phosphodiesterase 9A inhibitor (PDE9i). In contrast, the same treatment did not improve these aspects in low compensators. Thus, central compensation of age-dependent cochlear synaptopathy is a glucocorticoid and cyclic guanosine-monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent neuronal mechanism that fails upon a blunted stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Savitska
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Morgan Hess
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Dila Calis
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Philine Marchetta
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Csaba Harasztosi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Fink
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Eckert
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter Ruth
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lukas Rüttiger
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marlies Knipper
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Marlies Knipper
| | - Wibke Singer
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Centre, Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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