Sex differences in hearing impairment due to diet-induced obesity in CBA/Ca mice

The inflammatory and metabolic status of patients with sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss

Introduction

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a common emergency symptom in otolaryngology that requires immediate diagnosis and treatment. SSNHL has a multifactorial etiology, and its pathophysiologic mechanisms may be associated with inflammatory and metabolic changes that may affect the cochlear microenvironment or its nervous component, thus triggering the process or hindering hearing recovery. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess metabolic and inflammatory changes to identify systemic parameters that could serve as prognostic factors for hearing recovery in patients with SSNHL.

Materials and methods

Thirty patients with a sudden hearing loss of at least 30 dB in three contiguous frequencies were enrolled in this study. Patients were followed up for 4 months and peripheral blood samples were collected at 7 days (V1), 30 days (V2) and 120 days (V3). Interleukins (IL)-1F7, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, interferon γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and adiponectin were quantified in serum. In addition, lipid and glycemic profiles as well as concentration of creatinine, uric acid, fructosamine, peroxide, total proteins and albumin were analyzed. Patients underwent weekly ear-specific hearing tests with standard pure tone thresholds for frequencies of 250-8,000 Hz, speech recognition threshold and word recognition score.

Results

Patients with SSNHL were divided into a group of patients who did not achieve hearing recovery (n = 14) and another group who achieved complete and significant recovery (n = 16). Most serologic parameters showed no significant changes or values indicating clinical changes. However, IFN-γ levels decreased by 36.3% between V1 and V2. The cytokine TNF-α showed a statistically significant decrease from V1 to V3 (from 22.91 to 10.34 pg./mL). Adiponectin showed a decrease from 553.7 ng/mL in V1 to 454.4 ng/mL in V3.

Discussion

Our results show that serologic cytokine levels change in the acute phase of manifestation of SSNHL and establish a parallel between systemic changes and improvements in hearing, especially TNF-α, which showed differences in hearing recovery. The use of IFN-γ, TNF-α and adiponectin may elucidate the clinical improvement in these patients.

AdipoRon reduces cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in hair cells:possible relation to the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis

AdipoRon (AR) can exert antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory effects by maintaining mitochondrial structure and function. The present study was designed to explore whether AR protects the auditory cells from cisplatin-induced damage and, if so, to probe the possible mechanisms underlying its action on this type of cells. Cell viability and apoptosis in House Ear Institute-Organization of Corti 1 (HEI-OC1 cells) and mouse cochlea hair cells (HCs) were detected by CCK8 and immunofluorescence. The expressions of apoptosis-related proteins (cleaved caspase-3 and Bcl-2), adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR 1) and the key factors relevant to mitochondrial biogenesis（SIRT1 and TFAM）were determined by Western blot and immunofluorescence. Changes in apoptotic rate and expression of SIRT1 and TFAM after silencing of AdipoR 1 (AdipoR 1-siRNA) in HEI-OC1 cells were measured by flow cytometry and Western blot. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated by MitoSox red staining. We found that 30 μM cisplatin exposure induced severe cellular damage, which resulted from activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Cisplatin decreased the expression of AdipoR 1, SIRT1, and TFAM proteins, leading to impaired mitochondrial biogenesis and increased mitochondrial ROS production. 10 μM AR pre-treatment enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis, decreased mitochondrial ROS levels, alleviated imbalances in the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, thus reducing cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Taken together, this work reveals that AR exerts anti-apoptotic effects, possibly via regulating mitochondrial biogenesis and function. Interestingly, AR might possess the promising potential to be a novel drug for the prevention and/ or treatment of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.

CORM‑2 reduces cisplatin accumulation in the mouse inner ear and protects against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity

INTRODUCTION

Cisplatin is a life-saving anticancer compound used to treat multiple solid malignant tumors, while it causes permanent hearing loss. There is no known cure, and the FDA has not approved any preventative treatment for cisplatin-based ototoxicity.

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated whether the carbon monoxide (CO)-releasing tricarbonyldichlororuthenium (II) dimer, CORM-2, reverses cisplatin-induced hearing impairment and reduces cisplatin accumulation in the mouse inner ear.

METHODS

Male 6-week-old BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: control (saline-treated, i.p.), CORM-2 only (30 mg/kg, i.p., four doses), cisplatin only (20 mg/kg, i.p., one dose), and CORM-2 + cisplatin, to determine whether cisplatin-based hearing impairment was alleviated by CORM-2 treatment.

RESULTS

Our results revealed CORM-2 significantly attenuated cisplatin-induced hearing loss in young adult mice. CORM-2 co-treatment significantly decreased platinum accumulation in the inner ear and activated the plasma membrane repair system of the stria vascularis. Moreover, CORM-2 co-treatment significantly decreased cisplatin-induced inflammation, apoptosis, and cochlear necroptosis. Because the stria vascularis is the likely cochlear entry point of cisplatin, we next focused on the microvasculature. Cisplatin induced increased extravasation of a chromatic tracer (fluorescein isothiocyanate [FITC]-dextran, MW 75 kDa) around the cochlear microvessels at 4 days post-treatment; this extravasation was completely inhibited by CORM-2 co-therapy. CORM-2 co-treatment effectively maintained the integrity of stria vascularis components including endothelial cells, pericytes, and perivascular-resident macrophage-type melanocytes.

CONCLUSION

CORM-2 co-therapy substantially protects against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity by reducing platinum accumulation and toxic cellular stress responses. These data indicate that CORM-2 co-treatment may be translated into clinical strategy to reduce cisplatin-induced hearing loss.

Pharmacological Modulation of Energy and Metabolic Pathways Protects Hearing in the Fus1/Tusc2 Knockout Model of Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress

Tightly regulated and robust mitochondrial activities are critical for normal hearing. Previously, we demonstrated that Fus1/Tusc2 KO mice with mitochondrial dysfunction exhibit premature hearing loss. Molecular analysis of the cochlea revealed hyperactivation of the mTOR pathway, oxidative stress, and altered mitochondrial morphology and quantity, suggesting compromised energy sensing and production. Here, we investigated whether the pharmacological modulation of metabolic pathways using rapamycin (RAPA) or 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) supplementation can protect against hearing loss in female Fus1 KO mice. Additionally, we aimed to identify mitochondria- and Fus1/Tusc2-dependent molecular pathways and processes critical for hearing. We found that inhibiting mTOR or activating alternative mitochondrial energetic pathways to glycolysis protected hearing in the mice. Comparative gene expression analysis revealed the dysregulation of critical biological processes in the KO cochlea, including mitochondrial metabolism, neural and immune responses, and the cochlear hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis signaling system. RAPA and 2-DG mostly normalized these processes, although some genes showed a drug-specific response or no response at all. Interestingly, both drugs resulted in a pronounced upregulation of critical hearing-related genes not altered in the non-treated KO cochlea, including cytoskeletal and motor proteins and calcium-linked transporters and voltage-gated channels. These findings suggest that the pharmacological modulation of mitochondrial metabolism and bioenergetics may restore and activate processes critical for hearing, thereby protecting against hearing loss.

Universal Recommendations on Planning and Performing the Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) with a Focus on Mice and Rats

Translational audiology research aims to transfer basic research findings into practical clinical applications. While animal studies provide essential knowledge for translational research, there is an urgent need to improve the reproducibility of data derived from these studies. Sources of variability in animal research can be grouped into three areas: animal, equipment, and experimental. To increase standardization in animal research, we developed universal recommendations for designing and conducting studies using a standard audiological method: auditory brainstem response (ABR). The recommendations are domain-specific and are intended to guide the reader through the issues that are important when applying for ABR approval, preparing for, and conducting ABR experiments. Better experimental standardization, which is the goal of these guidelines, is expected to improve the understanding and interpretation of results, reduce the number of animals used in preclinical studies, and improve the translation of knowledge to the clinic.