Truncation of the otoferlin transmembrane domain alters the development of hair cells and reduces membrane docking

The sensory shark: high-quality morphological, genomic and transcriptomic data for the small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula reveal the molecular bases of sensory organ evolution in jawed vertebrates

Cartilaginous fishes (chimaeras and elasmobranchs -sharks, skates and rays) hold a key phylogenetic position to explore the origin and diversifications of jawed vertebrates. Here, we report and integrate reference genomic, transcriptomic and morphological data in the small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula to shed light on the evolution of sensory organs. We first characterise general aspects of the catshark genome, confirming the high conservation of genome organisation across cartilaginous fishes, and investigate population genomic signatures. Taking advantage of a dense sampling of transcriptomic data, we also identify gene signatures for all major organs, including chondrichthyan specializations, and evaluate expression diversifications between paralogs within major gene families involved in sensory functions. Finally, we combine these data with 3D synchrotron imaging and in situ gene expression analyses to explore chondrichthyan-specific traits and more general evolutionary trends of sensory systems. This approach brings to light, among others, novel markers of the ampullae of Lorenzini electro-sensory cells, a duplication hotspot for crystallin genes conserved in jawed vertebrates, and a new metazoan clade of the Transient-receptor potential (TRP) family. These resources and results, obtained in an experimentally tractable chondrichthyan model, open new avenues to integrate multiomics analyses for the study of elasmobranchs and jawed vertebrates.

Quantitative profiling of cochlear synaptosomal proteins in cisplatin-induced synaptic dysfunction

The disruption of ribbon synapses in the cochlea impairs the transmission of auditory signals from the cochlear sensory receptor cells to the auditory cortex. Although cisplatin-induced loss of ribbon synapses is well-documented, and studies have reported nitration of cochlear proteins after cisplatin treatment, yet the underlying mechanism of cochlear synaptopathy is not fully understood. This study tests the hypothesis that cisplatin treatment alters the abundance of cochlear synaptosomal proteins, and selective targeting of nitrative stress prevents the associated synaptic dysfunction. Auditory brainstem responses of mice treated with cisplatin showed a reduction in amplitude and an increase in latency of wave I, indicating cisplatin-induced synaptic dysfunction. The mass spectrometry analysis of cochlear synaptosomal proteins identified 102 proteins that decreased in abundance and 249 that increased in abundance after cisplatin treatment. Pathway analysis suggested that the dysregulated proteins were involved in calcium binding, calcium ion regulation, synapses, and endocytosis pathways. Inhibition of nitrative stress by co-treatment with MnTBAP, a peroxynitrite scavenger, attenuated cisplatin-induced changes in the abundance of 27 proteins. Furthermore, MnTBAP co-treatment prevented the cisplatin-induced decrease in the amplitude and increase in the latency of wave I. Together, these findings suggest a potential role of oxidative/nitrative stress in cisplatin-induced cochlear synaptic dysfunction.

Otoferlin as a multirole Ca2+ signaling protein: from inner ear synapses to cancer pathways

Humans have six members of the ferlin protein family: dysferlin, myoferlin, otoferlin, fer1L4, fer1L5, and fer1L6. These proteins share common features such as multiple Ca2+-binding C2 domains, FerA domains, and membrane anchoring through their single C-terminal transmembrane domain, and are believed to play a key role in calcium-triggered membrane fusion and vesicle trafficking. Otoferlin plays a crucial role in hearing and vestibular function. In this review, we will discuss how we see otoferlin working as a Ca2+-dependent mechanical sensor regulating synaptic vesicle fusion at the hair cell ribbon synapses. Although otoferlin is also present in the central nervous system, particularly in the cortex and amygdala, its role in brain tissues remains unknown. Mutations in the OTOF gene cause one of the most frequent genetic forms of congenital deafness, DFNB9. These mutations produce severe to profound hearing loss due to a defect in synaptic excitatory glutamatergic transmission between the inner hair cells and the nerve fibers of the auditory nerve. Gene therapy protocols that allow normal rescue expression of otoferlin in hair cells have just started and are currently in pre-clinical phase. In parallel, studies have linked ferlins to cancer through their effect on cell signaling and development, allowing tumors to form and cancer cells to adapt to a hostile environment. Modulation by mechanical forces and Ca2+ signaling are key determinants of the metastatic process. Although ferlins importance in cancer has not been extensively studied, data show that otoferlin expression is significantly associated with survival in specific cancer types, including clear cell and papillary cell renal carcinoma, and urothelial bladder cancer. These findings indicate a role for otoferlin in the carcinogenesis of these tumors, which requires further investigation to confirm and understand its exact role, particularly as it varies by tumor site. Targeting this protein may lead to new cancer therapies.

Putative COVID-19 therapies imatinib, lopinavir, ritonavir, and ivermectin cause hair cell damage: A targeted screen in the zebrafish lateral line

The biomedical community is rapidly developing COVID-19 drugs to bring much-need therapies to market, with over 900 drugs and drug combinations currently in clinical trials. While this pace of drug development is necessary, the risk of producing therapies with significant side-effects is also increased. One likely side-effect of some COVID-19 drugs is hearing loss, yet hearing is not assessed during preclinical development or clinical trials. We used the zebrafish lateral line, an established model for drug-induced sensory hair cell damage, to assess the ototoxic potential of seven drugs in clinical trials for treatment of COVID-19. We found that ivermectin, lopinavir, imatinib, and ritonavir were significantly toxic to lateral line hair cells. By contrast, the approved COVID-19 therapies dexamethasone and remdesivir did not cause damage. We also did not observe damage from the antibiotic azithromycin. Neither lopinavir nor ritonavir altered the number of pre-synaptic ribbons per surviving hair cell, while there was an increase in ribbons following imatinib or ivermectin exposure. Damage from lopinavir, imatinib, and ivermectin was specific to hair cells, with no overall cytotoxicity noted following TUNEL labeling. Ritonavir may be generally cytotoxic, as determined by an increase in the number of TUNEL-positive non-hair cells following ritonavir exposure. Pharmacological inhibition of the mechanotransduction (MET) channel attenuated damage caused by lopinavir and ritonavir but did not alter imatinib or ivermectin toxicity. These results suggest that lopinavir and ritonavir may enter hair cells through the MET channel, similar to known ototoxins such as aminoglycoside antibiotics. Finally, we asked if ivermectin was ototoxic to rats in vivo. While ivermectin is not recommended by the FDA for treating COVID-19, many people have chosen to take ivermectin without a doctor’s guidance, often with serious side-effects. Rats received daily subcutaneous injections for 10 days with a clinically relevant ivermectin dose (0.2 mg/kg). In contrast to our zebrafish assays, ivermectin did not cause ototoxicity in rats. Our research suggests that some drugs in clinical trials for COVID-19 may be ototoxic. This work can help identify drugs with the fewest side-effects and determine which therapies warrant audiometric monitoring.