1
|
Brotto D, Greggio M. Intratympanic Gels for Inner Ear Disorders: A Scoping Review of Clinical Trials. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2024; 170:1613-1629. [PMID: 38308599 DOI: 10.1002/ohn.656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Intratympanic injections are a safe, well tolerated procedure routinely performed by ENT's specialists. Intratympanic injections of gels have the potential to deliver therapeutics into the cochlea through the round window membrane prolonging the release of drugs in the inner ear compartment. Aim of the present review is to summarize clinical trials testing pharmacological treatments for inner ear pathologies through intratympanic gel formulations. DATA SOURCES Online databases (Google scholar and PubMed) and registers (Clinicaltrials.gov and Euclinicaltrial) were used to identify clinical trials performed between 1990 and 2022. REVIEW METHODS PRISMA criteria have been followed. Clinical trials testing gel formulations administered through local intratympanic injections and targeting inner ear disorders were included. All the reports were identified by the authors working in pairs sequentially selecting only studies respecting the inclusion criteria. RESULTS A total of 45 clinical studies have been noticed; the gels for intratympanic injection are in the form of poloxamers or hyaluronic acid combinations; the trials found target different kind of inner ear disorders: acquired-stable SNHL, tinnitus, acute sudden SNHL, Meniere disease, cisplatin induced ototoxicity and hearing preservation in patients undergoing cochlear implant surgery. CONCLUSION Few studies listed do not provide the specific kind of gel formulation used but only report the intratympanic delivery vehicle as "gel" or "thermogel". Multiple clinical studies have been targeting several forms of inner ear disorders by injecting different compounds through poloxamer and hyaluronic acid formulations. Larger and more advanced clinical stages are necessary to confirm the efficacy of these chemical compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davide Brotto
- Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Greggio
- Department of Neuroscience DNS, Degree Course in Audiometric Techniques, Padova University, Padova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lee C, Hartsock JJ, Salt AN, Lichtenhan JT. A Guinea Pig Model Suggests That Objective Assessment of Acoustic Hearing Preservation in Human Ears With Cochlear Implants Is Confounded by Shifts in the Spatial Origin of Acoustically Evoked Potential Measurements Along the Cochlear Length. Ear Hear 2024; 45:666-678. [PMID: 38178312 DOI: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Our recent empirical findings have shown that the auditory nerve compound action potential (CAP) evoked by a low-level tone burst originates from a narrow cochlear region tuned to the tone burst frequency. At moderate to high sound levels, the origins shift to the most sensitive audiometric regions rather than the extended high-frequency regions of the cochlear base. This means that measurements evoked from extended high-frequency sound stimuli can shift toward the apex with increasing level. Here we translate this study to understand the spatial origin of acoustically evoked responses from ears that receive cochlear implants, an emerging area of research and clinical practice that is not completely understood. An essential step is to first understand the influence of the cochlear implant in otherwise naive ears. Our objective was to understand how function of the high-frequency cochlear base, which can be excited by the intense low-frequency sounds that are frequently used for objective intra- and postoperative monitoring, can be influenced by the presence of the cochlear implant. DESIGN We acoustically evoked responses and made measurements with an electrode placed near the guinea pig round window. The cochlear implant was not utilized for either electrical stimulation or recording purposes. With the cochlear implant in situ, CAPs were acoustically evoked from 2 to 16 kHz tone bursts of various levels while utilizing the slow perfusion of a kainic acid solution from the cochlear apex to the cochlear aqueduct in the base, which sequentially reduced neural responses from finely spaced cochlear frequency regions. This cochlear perfusion technique reveals the spatial origin of evoked potential measurements and provides insight on what influence the presence of an implant has on acoustical hearing. RESULTS Threshold measurements at 3 to 11 kHz were elevated by implantation. In an individual ear, thresholds were elevated and lowered as cochlear implant was respectively inserted and removed, indicative of "conductive hearing loss" induced by the implant. The maximum threshold elevation occurred at most sensitive region of the naive guinea pig ear (33.66 dB at 8 kHz), making 11 kHz the most sensitive region to acoustic sounds for guinea pig ears with cochlear implants. Conversely, the acute implantation did not affect the low-frequency, 500 Hz thresholds and suprathreshold function, as shown by the auditory nerve overlapped waveform. As the sound pressure level of the tone bursts increased, mean data show that the spatial origin of CAPs along the cochlear length shifted toward the most sensitive cochlear region of implanted ears, not the extended high-frequency cochlear regions. However, data from individual ears showed that after implantation, measurements from moderate to high sound pressure levels originate in places that are unique to each ear. CONCLUSIONS Alterations to function of the cochlear base from the in situ cochlear implant may influence objective measurements of implanted ears that are frequently made with intense low-frequency sound stimuli. Our results from guinea pigs advance the interpretation of measurements used to understand how and when residual acoustic hearing is lost in human ears receiving a cochlear implant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Choongheon Lee
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Jared J Hartsock
- Department of Cochlear Surgery, Turner Scientific, Inc., Jacksonville, Illinois, USA
| | - Alec N Salt
- Department of Pharmacokinetics, Turner Scientific, Inc., Jacksonville, Illinois, USA
| | - Jeffery T Lichtenhan
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of South Florida Morsani School of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hemachandran S, Hu N, Kane CJ, Green SH. Cyclic AMP signaling promotes regeneration of cochlear synapses after excitotoxic or noise trauma. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1363219. [PMID: 38694536 PMCID: PMC11061447 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1363219] [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: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cochlear afferent synapses connecting inner hair cells to spiral ganglion neurons are susceptible to excitotoxic trauma on exposure to loud sound, resulting in a noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy (NICS). Here we assessed the ability of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) signaling to promote cochlear synapse regeneration, inferred from its ability to promote axon regeneration in axotomized CNS neurons, another system refractory to regeneration. Methods We mimicked NICS in vitro by applying a glutamate receptor agonist, kainic acid (KA) to organotypic cochlear explant cultures and experimentally manipulated cAMP signaling to determine whether PKA could promote synapse regeneration. We then delivered the cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor rolipram via implanted subcutaneous minipumps in noise-exposed CBA/CaJ mice to test the hypothesis that cAMP signaling could promote cochlear synapse regeneration in vivo. Results We showed that the application of the cell membrane-permeable cAMP agonist 8-cpt-cAMP or the cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor rolipram promotes significant regeneration of synapses in vitro within twelve hours after their destruction by KA. This is independent of neurotrophin-3, which also promotes synapse regeneration. Moreover, of the two independent signaling effectors activated by cAMP - the cAMP Exchange Protein Activated by cAMP and the cAMP-dependent protein kinase - it is the latter that mediates synapse regeneration. Finally, we showed that systemic delivery of rolipram promotes synapse regeneration in vivo following NICS. Discussion In vitro experiments show that cAMP signaling promotes synapse regeneration after excitotoxic destruction of cochlear synapses and does so via PKA signaling. The cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor rolipram promotes synapse regeneration in vivo in noise-exposed mice. Systemic administration of rolipram or similar compounds appears to provide a minimally invasive therapeutic approach to reversing synaptopathy post-noise.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Steven H. Green
- Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Suraj U, Nisha KV, Prabhu P. Normal linear and non-linear cochlear mechanisms and efferent system functioning in individuals with misophonia. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 281:1709-1716. [PMID: 37837477 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-023-08273-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Misophonia, a condition characterized by heightened sensitivity and strong emotional reactions to specific sounds, has sparked considerable interest and debate regarding its underlying auditory mechanisms. The study aimed to understand the auditory underpinnings of two such potential inner ear systems, non-linear and linear outer hair cell functioning along with auditory efferent functioning in individuals with misophonia. METHODS 40 ears with misophonia (20 participants) and 37 ears without misophonia (20 participants), both having normal hearing sensitivity were included in this study. Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were obtained in two conditions (with and without contralateral noise). RESULTS Results of independent-samples t-test showed no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) in the absolute amplitudes of both TEOAEs and DPOAEs between the individuals with and without misophonia. There was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) observed in the magnitude of suppression amplitude between the two groups for in both TEOAEs and DPOAEs between individuals with and without misophonia. CONCLUSION These results suggest that the cochlear and efferent auditory underpinnings examined in this study may not be major contributors to the development or manifestation of misophonia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Urs Suraj
- Department of Audiology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Manasagangothri, Mysuru, 570 006, Karnataka, India.
| | - Kavassery Venkateswaran Nisha
- Department of Audiology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Manasagangothri, Mysuru, 570 006, Karnataka, India
| | - Prashanth Prabhu
- Department of Audiology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Manasagangothri, Mysuru, 570 006, Karnataka, India
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Reed JL, Qi HX, Kaas JH. Implications for brainstem recovery from studies in primates after sensory loss from arm. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:479-480. [PMID: 37721262 PMCID: PMC10581547 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.380890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jamie L. Reed
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Hui-Xin Qi
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jon H. Kaas
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lu Y, Liu J, Li B, Wang H, Wang F, Wang S, Wu H, Han H, Hua Y. Spatial patterns of noise-induced inner hair cell ribbon loss in the mouse mid-cochlea. iScience 2024; 27:108825. [PMID: 38313060 PMCID: PMC10835352 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
In the mammalian cochlea, moderate acoustic overexposure leads to loss of ribbon-type synapse between the inner hair cell (IHC) and its postsynaptic spiral ganglion neuron (SGN), causing a reduced dynamic range of hearing but not a permanent threshold elevation. A prevailing view is that such ribbon loss (known as synaptopathy) selectively impacts the low-spontaneous-rate and high-threshold SGN fibers contacting predominantly the modiolar IHC face. However, the spatial pattern of synaptopathy remains scarcely characterized in the most sensitive mid-cochlear region, where two morphological subtypes of IHC with distinct ribbon size gradients coexist. Here, we used volume electron microscopy to investigate noise exposure-related changes in the mouse IHCs with and without ribbon loss. Our quantifications reveal that IHC subtypes differ in the worst-hit area of synaptopathy. Moreover, we show relative enrichment of mitochondria in the surviving SGN terminals, providing key experimental evidence for the long-proposed role of SGN-terminal mitochondria in synaptic vulnerability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai 200125, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai 200125, China
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Laboratory of Brain Atlas and Brain-inspired Intelligence, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Bei Li
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai 200125, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai 200125, China
| | - Haoyu Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
| | - Fangfang Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
| | - Shengxiong Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai 200125, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai 200125, China
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
| | - Hua Han
- Laboratory of Brain Atlas and Brain-inspired Intelligence, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
- State Key Laboratory of Multimodal Artificial Intelligence Systems, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Yunfeng Hua
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai 200125, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai 200125, China
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Jukic A, Lei Z, Cebul ER, Pinter K, Mosqueda N, David S, Tarchini B, Kindt K. Presynaptic Nrxn3 is essential for ribbon-synapse assembly in hair cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.14.580267. [PMID: 38410471 PMCID: PMC10896334 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.14.580267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Hair cells of the inner ear rely on specialized ribbon synapses to transmit sensory information to the central nervous system. The molecules required to assemble these synapses are not fully understood. We show that Nrxn3, a presynaptic adhesion molecule, is critical for ribbon-synapse assembly in hair cells. In both mouse and zebrafish models, loss of Nrxn3 results in significantly fewer intact ribbon synapses. In zebrafish we demonstrate that a 60% loss of synapses in nrxn3 mutants dramatically reduces both presynaptic responses in hair cells and postsynaptic responses in afferent neurons. Despite a reduction in synapse function in this model, we find no deficits in the acoustic startle response, a behavior reliant on these synapses. Overall, this work demonstrates that Nrxn3 is a critical and conserved molecule required to assemble ribbon synapses. Understanding how ribbon synapses assemble is a key step towards generating novel therapies to treat forms of age-related and noise-induced hearing loss that occur due to loss of ribbon synapses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alma Jukic
- Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Zhengchang Lei
- Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Cebul
- Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Katherine Pinter
- Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Natalie Mosqueda
- Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Sandeep David
- Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | | | - Katie Kindt
- Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Charlton PE, Burke K, Kobrina A, Lauer AM, Dent ML. The perception of ultrasonic vocalizations by laboratory mice following intense noise exposures. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2024; 155:867-878. [PMID: 38310604 PMCID: PMC10838193 DOI: 10.1121/10.0024614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Noise-induced hearing loss interacts with age, sex, and listening conditions to affect individuals' perception of ecologically relevant stimuli like speech. The present experiments assessed the impact of age and sex on vocalization detection by noise-exposed mice trained to detect a downsweep or complex ultrasonic vocalization in quiet or in the presence of a noise background. Daily thresholds before and following intense noise exposure were collected longitudinally and compared across several factors. All mice, regardless of age, sex, listening condition, or stimulus type showed their poorest behavioral sensitivity immediately after the noise exposure. There were varying degrees of recovery over time and across factors. Old-aged mice had greater threshold shifts and less recovery compared to middle-aged mice. Mice had larger threshold shifts and less recovery for downsweeps than for complex vocalizations. Female mice were more sensitive, had smaller post-noise shifts, and had better recovery than males. Thresholds in noise were higher and less variable than thresholds in quiet, but there were comparable shifts and recovery. In mice, as in humans, the perception of ecologically relevant stimuli suffers after an intense noise exposure, and results differ from simple tone detection findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Payton E Charlton
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14260, USA
| | - Kali Burke
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14260, USA
| | - Anastasiya Kobrina
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14260, USA
| | - Amanda M Lauer
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Center for Hearing and Balance, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA
| | - Micheal L Dent
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14260, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Xie R, Wang M, Zhang C. Mechanisms of age-related hearing loss at the auditory nerve central synapses and postsynaptic neurons in the cochlear nucleus. Hear Res 2024; 442:108935. [PMID: 38113793 PMCID: PMC10842789 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2023.108935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Sound information is transduced from mechanical vibration to electrical signals in the cochlea, conveyed to and further processed in the brain to form auditory perception. During the process, spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) are the key cells that connect the peripheral and central auditory systems by receiving information from hair cells in the cochlea and transmitting it to neurons of the cochlear nucleus (CN). Decades of research in the cochlea greatly improved our understanding of SGN function under normal and pathological conditions, especially about the roles of different subtypes of SGNs and their peripheral synapses. However, it remains less clear how SGN central terminals or auditory nerve (AN) synapses connect to CN neurons, and ultimately how peripheral pathology links to structural alterations and functional deficits in the central auditory nervous system. This review discusses recent progress about the morphological and physiological properties of different subtypes of AN synapses and associated postsynaptic CN neurons, their changes during aging, and the potential mechanisms underlying age-related hearing loss.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruili Xie
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Ohio State University, 420 W 12th Ave, Columbus OH 43210, USA; Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, 420W 12th Ave, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Meijian Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Ohio State University, 420 W 12th Ave, Columbus OH 43210, USA
| | - Chuangeng Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Ohio State University, 420 W 12th Ave, Columbus OH 43210, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Cepeda AP, Ninov M, Neef J, Parfentev I, Kusch K, Reisinger E, Jahn R, Moser T, Urlaub H. Proteomic Analysis Reveals the Composition of Glutamatergic Organelles of Auditory Inner Hair Cells. Mol Cell Proteomics 2024; 23:100704. [PMID: 38128648 PMCID: PMC10832297 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2023.100704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In the ear, inner hair cells (IHCs) employ sophisticated glutamatergic ribbon synapses with afferent neurons to transmit auditory information to the brain. The presynaptic machinery responsible for neurotransmitter release in IHC synapses includes proteins such as the multi-C2-domain protein otoferlin and the vesicular glutamate transporter 3 (VGluT3). Yet, much of this likely unique molecular machinery remains to be deciphered. The scarcity of material has so far hampered biochemical studies which require large amounts of purified samples. We developed a subcellular fractionation workflow combined with immunoisolation of VGluT3-containing membrane vesicles, allowing for the enrichment of glutamatergic organelles that are likely dominated by synaptic vesicles (SVs) of IHCs. We have characterized their protein composition in mice before and after hearing onset using mass spectrometry and confocal imaging and provide a fully annotated proteome with hitherto unidentified proteins. Despite the prevalence of IHC marker proteins across IHC maturation, the profiles of trafficking proteins differed markedly before and after hearing onset. Among the proteins enriched after hearing onset were VAMP-7, syntaxin-7, syntaxin-8, syntaxin-12/13, SCAMP1, V-ATPase, SV2, and PKCα. Our study provides an inventory of the machinery associated with synaptic vesicle-mediated trafficking and presynaptic activity at IHC ribbon synapses and serves as a foundation for future functional studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreia P Cepeda
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Momchil Ninov
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany; Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jakob Neef
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Auditory Neuroscience & Synaptic Nanophysiology Group Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Iwan Parfentev
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Kusch
- Functional Auditory Genomics Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ellen Reisinger
- Gene Therapy for Hearing Impairment and Deafness, Department for Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Reinhard Jahn
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Tobias Moser
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Auditory Neuroscience & Synaptic Nanophysiology Group Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Henning Urlaub
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany; Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Seicol BJ, Guo Z, Garrity K, Xie R. Potential uses of auditory nerve stimulation to modulate immune responses in the inner ear and auditory brainstem. Front Integr Neurosci 2023; 17:1294525. [PMID: 38162822 PMCID: PMC10755874 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2023.1294525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Bioelectronic medicine uses electrical stimulation of the nervous system to improve health outcomes throughout the body primarily by regulating immune responses. This concept, however, has yet to be applied systematically to the auditory system. There is growing interest in how cochlear damage and associated neuroinflammation may contribute to hearing loss. In conjunction with recent findings, we propose here a new perspective, which could be applied alongside advancing technologies, to use auditory nerve (AN) stimulation to modulate immune responses in hearing health disorders and following surgeries for auditory implants. In this article we will: (1) review the mechanisms of inflammation in the auditory system in relation to various forms of hearing loss, (2) explore nerve stimulation to reduce inflammation throughout the body and how similar neural-immune circuits likely exist in the auditory system (3) summarize current methods for stimulating the auditory system, particularly the AN, and (4) propose future directions to use bioelectronic medicine to ameliorate harmful immune responses in the inner ear and auditory brainstem to treat refractory conditions. We will illustrate how current knowledge from bioelectronic medicine can be applied to AN stimulation to resolve inflammation associated with implantation and disease. Further, we suggest the necessary steps to get discoveries in this emerging field from bench to bedside. Our vision is a future for AN stimulation that includes additional protocols as well as advances in devices to target and engage neural-immune circuitry for therapeutic benefits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J. Seicol
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Zixu Guo
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Katy Garrity
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Ruili Xie
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Vincent PF, Young ED, Edge AS, Glowatzki E. Auditory Hair Cells and Spiral Ganglion Neurons Regenerate Synapses with Refined Release Properties In Vitro. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.05.561095. [PMID: 38076928 PMCID: PMC10705289 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.05.561095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Ribbon synapses between inner hair cells (IHCs) and type I spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) in the inner ear are damaged by noise trauma and with aging, causing 'synaptopathy 'and hearing loss. Co-cultures of neonatal denervated organs of Corti and newly introduced SGNs have been developed to find strategies for improving IHC synapse regeneration, but evidence of the physiological normality of regenerated synapses is missing. This study utilizes IHC optogenetic stimulation and SGN recordings, showing that newly formed IHC synapses are indeed functional, exhibiting glutamatergic excitatory postsynaptic currents. When older organs of Corti were plated, synaptic activity probed by deconvolution, showed more mature release properties, closer to the highly specialized mode of IHC synaptic transmission that is crucial for coding the sound signal. This newly developed functional assessment of regenerated IHC synapses provides a powerful tool for testing approaches to improve synapse regeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philippe F.Y. Vincent
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Eric D. Young
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Albert S.B. Edge
- Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elisabeth Glowatzki
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Chuang KF, Wang CH, Chen HK, Lin YY, Lin CH, Lin YC, Shih CP, Kuo CY, Chen YC, Chen HC. GRAIL gene knockout mice protect against aging-related and noise-induced hearing loss. J Chin Med Assoc 2023; 86:1101-1108. [PMID: 37820291 DOI: 10.1097/jcma.0000000000001005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hearing loss is a global health issue and its etiopathologies involve complex molecular pathways. The ubiquitin-proteasome system has been reported to be associated with cochlear development and hearing loss. The gene related to anergy in lymphocytes ( GRAIL ), as an E3 ubiquitin ligase, has not, as yet, been examined in aging-related and noise-induced hearing loss mice models. METHODS This study used wild-type (WT) and GRAIL knockout (KO) mice to examine cochlear hair cells and synaptic ribbons using immunofluorescence staining. The hearing in WT and KO mice was detected using auditory brainstem response. Gene expression patterns were compared using RNA-sequencing to identify potential targets during the pathogenesis of noise-induced hearing loss in WT and KO mice. RESULTS At the 12-month follow-up, GRAIL KO mice had significantly less elevation in threshold level and immunofluorescence staining showed less loss of outer hair cells and synaptic ribbons in the hook region compared with GRAIL WT mice. At days 1, 14, and 28 after noise exposure, GRAIL KO mice had significantly less elevation in threshold level than WT mice. After noise exposure, GRAIL KO mice showed less loss of outer hair cells in the cochlear hook and basal regions compared with WT mice. Moreover, immunofluorescence staining showed less loss of synaptic ribbons in the hook regions of GRAIL KO mice than of WT mice. RNA-seq analysis results showed significant differences in C-C motif chemokine ligand 19 ( CCL19 ), C-C motif chemokine ligand 21 ( CCL21 ), interleukin 25 ( IL25 ), glutathione peroxidase 6 ( GPX6 ), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 1 ( NOX1 ) genes after noise exposure. CONCLUSION The present data demonstrated that GRAIL deficiency protects against aging-related and noise-induced hearing loss. The mechanism involved needs to be further clarified from the potential association with synaptic modulation, inflammation, and oxidative stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Fen Chuang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chih-Hung Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Division of Otolaryngology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taoyuan Branch, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hang-Kang Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yuan-Yung Lin
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chia-Hsin Lin
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yi-Chun Lin
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Cheng-Ping Shih
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chao-Yin Kuo
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ying-Chuan Chen
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Hsin-Chien Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Almassri LS, Ohl AP, Iafrate MC, Wade AD, Tokar NJ, Mafi AM, Beebe NL, Young JW, Mellott JG. Age-related upregulation of perineuronal nets on inferior collicular cells that project to the cochlear nucleus. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1271008. [PMID: 38053844 PMCID: PMC10694216 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1271008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Disruptions to the balance of excitation and inhibition in the inferior colliculus (IC) occur during aging and underlie various aspects of hearing loss. Specifically, the age-related alteration to GABAergic neurotransmission in the IC likely contributes to the poorer temporal precision characteristic of presbycusis. Perineuronal nets (PNs), a specialized form of the extracellular matrix, maintain excitatory/inhibitory synaptic environments and reduce structural plasticity. We sought to determine whether PNs increasingly surround cell populations in the aged IC that comprise excitatory descending projections to the cochlear nucleus. Method We combined Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA) staining for PNs with retrograde tract-tracing in three age groups of Fischer Brown Norway (FBN) rats. Results The data demonstrate that the percentage of IC-CN cells with a PN doubles from ~10% at young age to ~20% at old age. This was true in both lemniscal and non-lemniscal IC. Discussion Furthermore, the increase of PNs occurred on IC cells that make both ipsilateral and contralateral descending projections to the CN. These results indicate that reduced structural plasticity in the elderly IC-CN pathway, affecting excitatory/inhibitory balance and, potentially, may lead to reduced temporal precision associated with presbycusis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laila S. Almassri
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
| | - Andrew P. Ohl
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
| | - Milena C. Iafrate
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Aidan D. Wade
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Nick J. Tokar
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
| | - Amir M. Mafi
- The Ohio State College of Medicine, The Ohio State, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Nichole L. Beebe
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
| | - Jesse W. Young
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
| | - Jeffrey G. Mellott
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Wang M, Lin S, Xie R. Apical-basal distribution of different subtypes of spiral ganglion neurons in the cochlea and the changes during aging. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292676. [PMID: 37883357 PMCID: PMC10602254 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Sound information is transmitted from the cochlea to the brain mainly by type I spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs), which consist of different subtypes with distinct physiological properties and selective expression of molecular markers. It remains unclear how these SGN subtypes distribute along the tonotopic axis, and whether the distribution pattern changes during aging that might underlie age-related hearing loss (ARHL). We investigated these questions using immunohistochemistry in three age groups of CBA/CaJ mice of either sex, including 2-5 months (young), 17-19 months (middle-age), and 28-32 months (old). Mouse cochleae were cryo-sectioned and triple-stained using antibodies against Tuj1, calretinin (CR) and calbindin (CB), which are reportedly expressed in all type I, subtype Ia, and subtype Ib SGNs, respectively. Labeled SGNs were classified into four groups based on the expression pattern of stained markers, including CR+ (subtype Ia), CB+ (subtype Ib), CR+CB+ (dual-labeled Ia/Ib), and CR-CB- (subtype Ic) neurons. The distribution of these SGN groups was analyzed in the apex, middle, and base regions of the cochleae. It showed that the prevalence of subtype Ia, Ib and dual-labeled Ia/Ib SGNs are high in the apex and low in the base. In contrast, the distribution pattern is reversed in Ic SGNs. Such frequency-dependent distribution is largely maintained during aging except for a preferential reduction of Ic SGNs, especially in the base. These findings corroborate the prior study based on RNAscope that SGN subtypes show differential vulnerability during aging. It suggests that sound processing of different frequencies involves distinct combinations of SGN subtypes, and the age-dependent loss of Ic SGNs in the base may especially impact high-frequency hearing during ARHL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meijian Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of Ameirca
| | - Shengyin Lin
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of Ameirca
| | - Ruili Xie
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of Ameirca
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of Ameirca
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Shim YJ, Jung WH, Billig AJ, Sedley W, Song JJ. Hippocampal atrophy is associated with hearing loss in cognitively normal adults. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1276883. [PMID: 37942139 PMCID: PMC10628109 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1276883] [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: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives A growing body of evidence suggests that age-related hearing loss (HL) is associated with morphological changes of the cerebral cortex, but the results have been drawn from a small amount of data in most studies. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between HL and gray matter volume (GMV) in a large number of subjects, strictly controlling for an extensive set of possible biases. Methods Medical records of 576 subjects who underwent pure tone audiometry, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the Korean Mini-Mental State Exam (K-MMSE) were reviewed. Among them, subjects with normal cognitive function and free of central nervous system disorders or coronary artery disease were included. Outliers were excluded after a sample homogeneity check. In the end, 405 subjects were enrolled. Pure tone hearing thresholds were determined at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz in the better ear. Enrolled subjects were divided into 3 groups according to pure tone average: normal hearing (NH), mild HL (MHL), and moderate-to-severe HL (MSHL) groups. Using voxel-based morphometry, we evaluated GMV changes that may be associated with HL. Sex, age, total intracranial volume, type of MRI scanner, education level, K-MMSE score, smoking status, and presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia were used as covariates. Results A statistically significant negative correlation between the hearing thresholds and GMV of the hippocampus was elucidated. Additionally, in group comparisons, the left hippocampal GMV of the MSHL group was significantly smaller than that of the NH and MHL groups. Conclusion Based on the negative correlation between hearing thresholds and hippocampal GMV in cognitively normal old adults, the current study indicates that peripheral deafferentation could be a potential contributing factor to hippocampal atrophy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ye Ji Shim
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Sensory Organ Research Institute, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Wi Hoon Jung
- Department of Psychology, Gachon University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | | | - William Sedley
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Medical School, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jae-Jin Song
- Sensory Organ Research Institute, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Hool SA, Jeng J, Jagger DJ, Marcotti W, Ceriani F. Age-related changes in P2Y receptor signalling in mouse cochlear supporting cells. J Physiol 2023; 601:4375-4395. [PMID: 37715703 PMCID: PMC10952729 DOI: 10.1113/jp284980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Our sense of hearing depends on the function of a specialised class of sensory cells, the hair cells, which are found in the organ of Corti of the mammalian cochlea. The unique physiological environment in which these cells operate is maintained by a syncitium of non-sensory supporting cells, which are crucial for regulating cochlear physiology and metabolic homeostasis. Despite their importance for cochlear function, the role of these supporting cells in age-related hearing loss, the most common sensory deficit in the elderly, is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the age-related changes in the expression and function of metabotropic purinergic receptors (P2Y1 , P2Y2 and P2Y4 ) in the supporting cells of the cochlear apical coil. Purinergic signalling in supporting cells is crucial during the development of the organ of Corti and purinergic receptors are known to undergo changes in expression during ageing in several tissues. Immunolabelling and Ca2+ imaging experiments revealed a downregulation of P2Y receptor expression and a decrease of purinergic-mediated calcium responses after early postnatal stages in the supporting cells. An upregulation of P2Y receptor expression was observed in the aged cochlea when compared to 1 month-old adults. The aged mice also had significantly larger calcium responses and displayed calcium oscillations during prolonged agonist applications. We conclude that supporting cells in the aged cochlea upregulate P2Y2 and P2Y4 receptors and display purinergic-induced Ca2+ responses that mimic those observed during pre-hearing stages of development, possibly aimed at limiting or preventing further damage to the sensory epithelium. KEY POINTS: Age-related hearing loss is associated with lower hearing sensitivity and decreased ability to understand speech. We investigated age-related changes in the expression and function of metabotropic purinergic (P2Y) receptors in cochlear non-sensory supporting cells of mice displaying early-onset (C57BL/6N) and late-onset (C3H/HeJ) hearing loss. The expression of P2Y1 , P2Y2 and P2Y4 receptors in the supporting cells decreased during cochlear maturation, but that of P2Y2 and P2Y4 was upregulated in the aged cochlea. P2Y2 and P2Y4 receptors were primarily responsible for the ATP-induced Ca2+ responses in the supporting cells. The degree of purinergic expression upregulation in aged supporting cells mirrored hearing loss progression in the different mouse strains. We propose that the upregulation of purinergic-mediated signalling in the aged cochlea is subsequent to age-related changes in the hair cells and may act as a protective mechanism to limit or to avoid further damage to the sensory epithelium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. Hool
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Jing‐Yi Jeng
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | | | - Walter Marcotti
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
- Neuroscience InstituteUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Sharma D, Gupta V, Bhatia S, Thakur P. Association of Vitamin D Deficiency in Patients with Tinnitus with Normal Audiogram. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2023; 75:1992-1999. [PMID: 37636653 PMCID: PMC10447690 DOI: 10.1007/s12070-023-03751-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study we aim to evaluate serum vitamin D levels in participants having tinnitus with normal audiometric findings. Total 98 participants in the age range 20-70 year were included in the study. Participants underwent detail case history, ear examination, pure tone audiometry and impedance audiometry. 68 participants with subjective tinnitus for more than 3 months and with normal audiometric thresholds and "A" type tympanogram were included in study group and 30 participants without tinnitus in the control group. The participants fullfillng the inclusion criteria underwent thorough tinnitus evaluation which included administration of tinnitus severity index tinnitus handicap inventory, psychophysical evaluation of tinnitus (pitch matching, loudness matching) and assessment of Vitamin D levels. It was seen that the mean Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in study group, and out of 68 participants only 11 had optimal Vitamin D levels, 57 (83%) had Vitamin D levels less that 30 mg/dl. In the control group 20 (66%) had vitamin D deficiency. The difference came out to be statistically significant. Our study suggests that there is a link between vitamin D and tinnitus, in view of these findings we recommend evaluating serum Vitamin D levels in patients of chronic idiopathic tinnitus, especially in adults with normal hearing. Our study suggests vitamin D deficiency may be one of the risk factor for tinnitus in people with normal hearing in the absence of other manifestations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deepika Sharma
- Deptt of ENT, Maharishi Markendeshwar Medical College & Hospital, Kumarhatti solan, India
| | - Vipan Gupta
- Deptt of ENT, Maharishi Markendeshwar Medical College & Hospital, Kumarhatti solan, India
| | - Shenny Bhatia
- Deptt of ENT, Maharishi Markendeshwar Medical College & Hospital, Kumarhatti solan, India
| | - Pooja Thakur
- Deptt of ENT, Maharishi Markendeshwar Medical College & Hospital, Kumarhatti solan, India
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Siebald C, Vincent PFY, Bottom RT, Sun S, Reijntjes DOJ, Manca M, Glowatzki E, Müller U. Molecular signatures define subtypes of auditory afferents with distinct peripheral projection patterns and physiological properties. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2217033120. [PMID: 37487063 PMCID: PMC10400978 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2217033120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Type I spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) are the auditory afferents that transmit sound information from cochlear inner hair cells (IHCs) to the brainstem. These afferents consist of physiological subtypes that differ in their spontaneous firing rate (SR), activation threshold, and dynamic range and have been described as low, medium, and high SR fibers. Lately, single-cell RNA sequencing experiments have revealed three molecularly defined type I SGN subtypes. The extent to which physiological type I SGN subtypes correspond to molecularly defined subtypes is unclear. To address this question, we have generated mouse lines expressing CreERT2 in SGN subtypes that allow for a physiological assessment of molecular subtypes. We show that Lypd1-CreERT2 expressing SGNs represent a well-defined group of neurons that preferentially innervate the IHC modiolar side and exhibit a narrow range of low SRs. In contrast, Calb2-CreERT2 expressing SGNs preferentially innervate the IHC pillar side and exhibit a wider range of SRs, thus suggesting that a strict stratification of all SGNs into three molecular subclasses is not obvious, at least not with the CreERT2 tools used here. Genetically marked neuronal subtypes refine their innervation specificity onto IHCs postnatally during the time when activity is required to refine their molecular phenotype. Type I SGNs thus consist of genetically defined subtypes with distinct physiological properties and innervation patterns. The molecular subtype-specific lines characterized here will provide important tools for investigating the role of the physiologically distinct type I SGNs in encoding sound signals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Siebald
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Philippe F. Y. Vincent
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Riley T. Bottom
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Shuohao Sun
- National Institute of Biological Science, Beijing102206, China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
| | - Daniel O. J. Reijntjes
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Marco Manca
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Elisabeth Glowatzki
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Ulrich Müller
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Sodero AO, Castagna VC, Elorza SD, Gonzalez-Rodulfo SM, Paulazo MA, Ballestero JA, Martin MG, Gomez-Casati ME. Phytosterols reverse antiretroviral-induced hearing loss, with potential implications for cochlear aging. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002257. [PMID: 37619212 PMCID: PMC10449472 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholesterol contributes to neuronal membrane integrity, supports membrane protein clustering and function, and facilitates proper signal transduction. Extensive evidence has shown that cholesterol imbalances in the central nervous system occur in aging and in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. In this work, we characterize cholesterol homeostasis in the inner ear of young and aged mice as a new unexplored possibility for the prevention and treatment of hearing loss. Our results show that cholesterol levels in the inner ear are reduced during aging, an effect that is associated with an increased expression of the cholesterol 24-hydroxylase (CYP46A1), the main enzyme responsible for cholesterol turnover in the brain. In addition, we show that pharmacological activation of CYP46A1 with the antiretroviral drug efavirenz reduces the cholesterol content in outer hair cells (OHCs), leading to a decrease in prestin immunolabeling and resulting in an increase in the distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) thresholds. Moreover, dietary supplementation with phytosterols, plant sterols with structure and function similar to cholesterol, was able to rescue the effect of efavirenz administration on the auditory function. Altogether, our findings point towards the importance of cholesterol homeostasis in the inner ear as an innovative therapeutic strategy in preventing and/or delaying hearing loss.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro O. Sodero
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (BIOMED, UCA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Valeria C. Castagna
- Instituto de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Dr. Héctor N. Torres, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (INGEBI-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Setiembre D. Elorza
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (INIMEC-CONICET-UNC), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Sara M. Gonzalez-Rodulfo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (BIOMED, UCA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María A. Paulazo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (BIOMED, UCA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jimena A. Ballestero
- Instituto de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mauricio G. Martin
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (INIMEC-CONICET-UNC), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - María Eugenia Gomez-Casati
- Instituto de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Kempfle JS, Jung DH. Experimental drugs for the prevention or treatment of sensorineural hearing loss. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2023; 32:643-654. [PMID: 37598357 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2023.2242253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sensorineural hearing loss results in irreversible loss of inner ear hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons. Reduced sound detection and speech discrimination can span all ages, and sensorineural hearing rehabilitation is limited to amplification with hearing aids or cochlear implants. Recent insights into experimental drug treatments for inner ear regeneration and otoprotection have paved the way for clinical trials in order to restore a more physiological hearing experience. Paired with the development of innovative minimally invasive approaches for drug delivery to the inner ear, new, emerging treatments for hearing protection and restoration are within reach. AREAS COVERED This expert opinion provides an overview of the latest experimental drug therapies to protect from and to restore sensorineural hearing loss. EXPERT OPINION The degree and type of cellular damage to the cochlea, the responsiveness of remaining, endogenous cells to regenerative treatments, and the duration of drug availability within cochlear fluids will determine the success of hearing protection or restoration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Judith S Kempfle
- Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - David H Jung
- Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Amariutei AE, Jeng JY, Safieddine S, Marcotti W. Recent advances and future challenges in gene therapy for hearing loss. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230644. [PMID: 37325593 PMCID: PMC10265000 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Hearing loss is the most common sensory deficit experienced by humans and represents one of the largest chronic health conditions worldwide. It is expected that around 10% of the world's population will be affected by disabling hearing impairment by 2050. Hereditary hearing loss accounts for most of the known forms of congenital deafness, and over 25% of adult-onset or progressive hearing loss. Despite the identification of well over 130 genes associated with deafness, there is currently no curative treatment for inherited deafness. Recently, several pre-clinical studies in mice that exhibit key features of human deafness have shown promising hearing recovery through gene therapy involving the replacement of the defective gene with a functional one. Although the potential application of this therapeutic approach to humans is closer than ever, substantial further challenges need to be overcome, including testing the safety and longevity of the treatment, identifying critical therapeutic time windows and improving the efficiency of the treatment. Herein, we provide an overview of the recent advances in gene therapy and highlight the current hurdles that the scientific community need to overcome to ensure a safe and secure implementation of this therapeutic approach in clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana E. Amariutei
- School of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Jing-Yi Jeng
- School of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Saaid Safieddine
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Institut de l'Audition, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Walter Marcotti
- School of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Pham TB, Boussaty EC, Currais A, Maher P, Schubert DR, Manor U, Friedman RA. Attenuation of Age-Related Hearing Impairment in Senescence-Accelerated Mouse Prone 8 (SAMP8) Mice Treated with Fatty Acid Synthase Inhibitor CMS121. J Mol Neurosci 2023; 73:307-315. [PMID: 37097512 PMCID: PMC10200781 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-023-02119-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
In the senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mouse model, oxidative stress leads to premature senescence and age-related hearing impairment (ARHI). CMS121 inhibits oxytosis/ferroptosis by targeting fatty acid synthase. The aim of our study was to determine whether CMS121 is protective against ARHI in SAMP8 mice. Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were used to assess baseline hearing in sixteen 4-week-old female SAMP8 mice, which were divided into two cohorts. The control group was fed a vehicle diet, while the experimental group was fed a diet containing CMS121. ABRs were measured until 13 weeks of age. Cochlear immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze the number of paired ribbon-receptor synapses per inner hair cell (IHC). Descriptive statistics are provided with mean ± SEM. Two-sample t-tests were performed to compare hearing thresholds and paired synapse count across the two groups, with alpha = 0.05. Baseline hearing thresholds in the control group were statistically similar to those of the CMS121 group. At 13 weeks of age, the control group had significantly worse hearing thresholds at 12 kHz (56.5 vs. 39.8, p = 0.044) and 16 kHz (64.8 vs. 43.8, p = 0.040) compared to the CMS121 group. Immunohistochemistry showed a significantly lower synapse count per IHC in the control group (15.7) compared to the CMS121 group (18.4), p = 0.014. Our study shows a significant reduction in ABR threshold shifts and increased preservation of IHC ribbon synapses in the mid-range frequencies among mice treated with CMS121 compared to untreated mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tammy B Pham
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego Health, 92037, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ely Cheikh Boussaty
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego Health, 92037, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Antonio Currais
- Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 92037, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Pamela Maher
- Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 92037, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - David R Schubert
- Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 92037, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Uri Manor
- Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Center, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 92037, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Rick A Friedman
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego Health, 92037, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Natarajan N, Batts S, Stankovic KM. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. J Clin Med 2023; 12:2347. [PMID: 36983347 PMCID: PMC10059082 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12062347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the second most common cause of sensorineural hearing loss, after age-related hearing loss, and affects approximately 5% of the world's population. NIHL is associated with substantial physical, mental, social, and economic impacts at the patient and societal levels. Stress and social isolation in patients' workplace and personal lives contribute to quality-of-life decrements which may often go undetected. The pathophysiology of NIHL is multifactorial and complex, encompassing genetic and environmental factors with substantial occupational contributions. The diagnosis and screening of NIHL are conducted by reviewing a patient's history of noise exposure, audiograms, speech-in-noise test results, and measurements of distortion product otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem response. Essential aspects of decreasing the burden of NIHL are prevention and early detection, such as implementation of educational and screening programs in routine primary care and specialty clinics. Additionally, current research on the pharmacological treatment of NIHL includes anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-excitatory, and anti-apoptotic agents. Although there have been substantial advances in understanding the pathophysiology of NIHL, there remain low levels of evidence for effective pharmacotherapeutic interventions. Future directions should include personalized prevention and targeted treatment strategies based on a holistic view of an individual's occupation, genetics, and pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nirvikalpa Natarajan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Shelley Batts
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Konstantina M. Stankovic
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
- Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Chou CW, Hsu YC. Current development of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells harbouring mitochondrial gene mutations and their applications in the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss. Hear Res 2023; 429:108689. [PMID: 36649664 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2023.108689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Of all the human body's sensory systems, the auditory system is perhaps its most intricate. Hearing loss can result from even modest damage or cell death in the inner ear, and is the most common form of sensory loss. Human hearing is made possible by the sensory epithelium, the lateral wall, and auditory nerves. The most prominent functional cells in the sensory epithelium are outer hair cells (OHCs), inner hair cells (IHCs), and supporting cells. Different sound frequencies are processed by OHCs and IHCs in different cochlear regions, with those in the apex responsible for low frequencies and those in the basal region responsible for high frequencies. Hair cells can be damaged or destroyed by loud noise, aging process, genetic mutations, ototoxicity, infection, and illness. As such, they are a primary target for treating sensorineural hearing loss. Other areas known to affect hearing include spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) in the auditory nerve. Age-related degradation of HCs and SGNs can also cause hearing loss. The aim of this review is to introduce the roles of mitochondria in human auditory system and the inner ear's main cell types and cellular functions, before going on to detail the likely health benefits of iPSC technology. We posit that patient-specific iPSCs with mitochondrial gene mutations will be an important aspect of regenerative medicine and will lead to significant progress in the treatment of SNHL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Wen Chou
- Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chao Hsu
- Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Paciello F, Ripoli C, Fetoni AR, Grassi C. Redox Imbalance as a Common Pathogenic Factor Linking Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12020332. [PMID: 36829891 PMCID: PMC9952092 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12020332] [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: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Experimental and clinical data suggest a tight link between hearing and cognitive functions under both physiological and pathological conditions. Indeed, hearing perception requires high-level cognitive processes, and its alterations have been considered a risk factor for cognitive decline. Thus, identifying common pathogenic determinants of hearing loss and neurodegenerative disease is challenging. Here, we focused on redox status imbalance as a possible common pathological mechanism linking hearing and cognitive dysfunctions. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in cochlear damage occurring during aging, as well as in that induced by exogenous factors, including noise. At the same time, increased oxidative stress in medio-temporal brain regions, including the hippocampus, is a hallmark of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease. As such, antioxidant therapy seems to be a promising approach to prevent and/or counteract both sensory and cognitive neurodegeneration. Here, we review experimental evidence suggesting that redox imbalance is a key pathogenetic factor underlying the association between sensorineural hearing loss and neurodegenerative diseases. A greater understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms shared by these two diseased conditions will hopefully provide relevant information to develop innovative and effective therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola Paciello
- Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Cristian Ripoli
- Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0630154966
| | - Anna Rita Fetoni
- Unit of Audiology, Department of Neuroscience, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Claudio Grassi
- Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Li L, Xu K, Bai X, Wang Z, Tian X, Chen X. UCHL1 regulated by Sp1 ameliorates cochlear hair cell senescence and oxidative damage. Exp Ther Med 2023; 25:94. [PMID: 36761006 PMCID: PMC9905655 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2023.11793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is the most common cause of hearing loss in the elderly. Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) is a deubiquitinating enzyme involved in several types of human disease. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of UCHL1 on a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced ARHL model in cochlear hair cells and uncover its underlying mechanism. Reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-q)PCR and western blot analysis were used to assess UCHL1 expression in HEI-OC1 cells exposed to H2O2. Following UCHL1 overexpression in H2O2-induced HEI-OC1 cells, cell activity was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. The content of oxidative stress-associated markers including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and reactive oxygen species (ROS ) was measured using corresponding commercial kits. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL assay and western blot analysis. Cell senescence was assessed by senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining and western blot analysis. RT-qPCR and western blot analysis were applied to measure mRNA and protein expression levels, respectively, of specificity protein 1 (Sp1) in H2O2-treated HEI-OC1 cells. In addition, the association between UCHL1 and Sp1 was verified by luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. The mRNA and protein expression levels of UCHL1 were also determined in Sp1-overexpressing cells by RT-qPCR and western blot analysis, respectively. Following Sp1 overexpression in UCHL1-overexpressing H2O2-treated HEI-OC1 cells, cell activity, oxidative stress, apoptosis and senescence were assessed. Finally, the expression levels of NF-κB signaling-related proteins p-NF-κB p65 and NF-κB p65 were detected using western blot analysis. The results showed that UCHL1 was downregulated in H2O2-treated HEI-OC1 cells. In addition, UCHL1 overexpression enhanced cell viability and promoted oxidative damage, apoptosis and senescence in H2O2-induced HEI-OC1 cells. Furthermore, Sp1 was upregulated in H2O2-treated HEI-OC1 cells. Additionally, luciferase reporter and ChIP assays demonstrated that Sp1 interacted with the UCHL1 promoter to inhibit UCHL1 transcription. Sp1 overexpression reversed the effect of UCHL1 overexpression on cell viability, oxidative stress, apoptosis, senescence and activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in H2O2-exposed HEI-OC1 cells. Collectively, the results suggested that UCHL1 transcriptional suppression by Sp1 protected cochlear hair cells from H2O2-triggered senescence and oxidative damage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lihua Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Kai Xu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Xue Bai
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Zhi Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoyan Tian
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Xubo Chen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China,Correspondence to: Dr Xubo Chen, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Chen HL, Tan CT, Wu CC, Liu TC. Effects of Diet and Lifestyle on Audio-Vestibular Dysfunction in the Elderly: A Literature Review. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14224720. [PMID: 36432406 PMCID: PMC9698578 DOI: 10.3390/nu14224720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The world's age-related health concerns continue to rise. Audio-vestibular disorders, such as hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo, are common complaints in the elderly and are associated with social and public health burdens. Various preventative measures can ease their impact, including healthy food consumption, nutritional supplementation, and lifestyle modification. We aim to provide a comprehensive summary of current possible strategies for preventing the age-related audio-vestibular dysfunction. METHODS A PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane review databases search was conducted to identify the relationship between diet, lifestyle, and audio-vestibular dysfunction. "Diet", "nutritional supplement", "lifestyle", "exercise", "physical activity", "tinnitus", "vertigo" and "age-related hearing loss" were used as keywords. RESULTS Audio-vestibular dysfunction develops and progresses as a result of age-related inflammation and oxidative stress. Diets with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects have been proposed to alleviate this illness. A high-fat diet may induce oxidative stress and low protein intake is associated with hearing discomfort in the elderly. Increased carbohydrate and sugar intake positively correlate with the incidence of audio-vestibular dysfunction, whereas a Mediterranean-style diet can protect against the disease. Antioxidants in the form of vitamins A, C, and E; physical activity; good sleep quality; smoking cessation; moderate alcohol consumption; and avoiding noise exposure are also beneficial. CONCLUSIONS Adequate diet or nutritional interventions with lifestyle modification may protect against developing audio-vestibular dysfunction in elderly individuals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hsin-Lin Chen
- Department of Surgical Oncology, National Taiwan University Cancer Center Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Ting Tan
- Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Chi Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsinchu 302, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Genetics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (C.-C.W.); (T.-C.L.)
| | - Tien-Chen Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (C.-C.W.); (T.-C.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Suess N, Hauswald A, Reisinger P, Rösch S, Keitel A, Weisz N. Cortical tracking of formant modulations derived from silently presented lip movements and its decline with age. Cereb Cortex 2022; 32:4818-4833. [PMID: 35062025 PMCID: PMC9627034 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The integration of visual and auditory cues is crucial for successful processing of speech, especially under adverse conditions. Recent reports have shown that when participants watch muted videos of speakers, the phonological information about the acoustic speech envelope, which is associated with but independent from the speakers' lip movements, is tracked by the visual cortex. However, the speech signal also carries richer acoustic details, for example, about the fundamental frequency and the resonant frequencies, whose visuophonological transformation could aid speech processing. Here, we investigated the neural basis of the visuo-phonological transformation processes of these more fine-grained acoustic details and assessed how they change as a function of age. We recorded whole-head magnetoencephalographic (MEG) data while the participants watched silent normal (i.e., natural) and reversed videos of a speaker and paid attention to their lip movements. We found that the visual cortex is able to track the unheard natural modulations of resonant frequencies (or formants) and the pitch (or fundamental frequency) linked to lip movements. Importantly, only the processing of natural unheard formants decreases significantly with age in the visual and also in the cingulate cortex. This is not the case for the processing of the unheard speech envelope, the fundamental frequency, or the purely visual information carried by lip movements. These results show that unheard spectral fine details (along with the unheard acoustic envelope) are transformed from a mere visual to a phonological representation. Aging affects especially the ability to derive spectral dynamics at formant frequencies. As listening in noisy environments should capitalize on the ability to track spectral fine details, our results provide a novel focus on compensatory processes in such challenging situations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nina Suess
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg 5020, Austria
| | - Anne Hauswald
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg 5020, Austria
| | - Patrick Reisinger
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg 5020, Austria
| | - Sebastian Rösch
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, University Hospital Salzburg, Salzburg 5020, Austria
| | - Anne Keitel
- School of Social Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, UK
| | - Nathan Weisz
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg 5020, Austria
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Institute, Christian Doppler University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg 5020, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
McChesney N, Barth JL, Rumschlag JA, Tan J, Harrington AJ, Noble KV, McClaskey CM, Elvis P, Vaena SG, Romeo MJ, Harris KC, Cowan CW, Lang H. Peripheral Auditory Nerve Impairment in a Mouse Model of Syndromic Autism. J Neurosci 2022; 42:8002-8018. [PMID: 36180228 PMCID: PMC9617620 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0253-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction of the peripheral auditory nerve (AN) contributes to dynamic changes throughout the central auditory system, resulting in abnormal auditory processing, including hypersensitivity. Altered sound sensitivity is frequently observed in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), suggesting that AN deficits and changes in auditory information processing may contribute to ASD-associated symptoms, including social communication deficits and hyperacusis. The MEF2C transcription factor is associated with risk for several neurodevelopmental disorders, and mutations or deletions of MEF2C produce a haploinsufficiency syndrome characterized by ASD, language, and cognitive deficits. A mouse model of this syndromic ASD (Mef2c-Het) recapitulates many of the MEF2C haploinsufficiency syndrome-linked behaviors, including communication deficits. We show here that Mef2c-Het mice of both sexes exhibit functional impairment of the peripheral AN and a modest reduction in hearing sensitivity. We find that MEF2C is expressed during development in multiple AN and cochlear cell types; and in Mef2c-Het mice, we observe multiple cellular and molecular alterations associated with the AN, including abnormal myelination, neuronal degeneration, neuronal mitochondria dysfunction, and increased macrophage activation and cochlear inflammation. These results reveal the importance of MEF2C function in inner ear development and function and the engagement of immune cells and other non-neuronal cells, which suggests that microglia/macrophages and other non-neuronal cells might contribute, directly or indirectly, to AN dysfunction and ASD-related phenotypes. Finally, our study establishes a comprehensive approach for characterizing AN function at the physiological, cellular, and molecular levels in mice, which can be applied to animal models with a wide range of human auditory processing impairments.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This is the first report of peripheral auditory nerve (AN) impairment in a mouse model of human MEF2C haploinsufficiency syndrome that has well-characterized ASD-related behaviors, including communication deficits, hyperactivity, repetitive behavior, and social deficits. We identify multiple underlying cellular, subcellular, and molecular abnormalities that may contribute to peripheral AN impairment. Our findings also highlight the important roles of immune cells (e.g., cochlear macrophages) and other non-neuronal elements (e.g., glial cells and cells in the stria vascularis) in auditory impairment in ASD. The methodological significance of the study is the establishment of a comprehensive approach for evaluating peripheral AN function and impact of peripheral AN deficits with minimal hearing loss.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan McChesney
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Jeremy L Barth
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Jeffrey A Rumschlag
- Department of Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Junying Tan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Adam J Harrington
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Kenyaria V Noble
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Carolyn M McClaskey
- Department of Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Phillip Elvis
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Silvia G Vaena
- Hollings Cancer Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Martin J Romeo
- Hollings Cancer Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Kelly C Harris
- Department of Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Christopher W Cowan
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| | - Hainan Lang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Auditory neuropathy: from etiology to management. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2022; 30:332-338. [PMID: 35939320 DOI: 10.1097/moo.0000000000000829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Auditory neuropathy is a disorder of auditory dysfunction characterized by the normal function of the outer hair cells and malfunction of the inner hair cells, synapses, postsynapses and/or auditory afferent nervous system. This review summarizes the process of discovery and naming of auditory neuropathy and describes the acquired, associated genetic disorders and management available. RECENT FINDINGS In the last 40 years, auditory neuropathy has undergone a process of discovery, naming and progressive elucidation of its complex pathological mechanisms. Recent studies have revealed numerous acquired and inherited causative factors associated with auditory neuropathy. Studies have analyzed the pathogenic mechanisms of various genes and the outcomes of cochlear implantation. New therapeutic approaches, such as stem cell therapy and gene therapy are the future trends in the treatment of auditory neuropathy. SUMMARY A comprehensive understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms is crucial in illustrating auditory neuropathy and assist in developing future management strategies.
Collapse
|
32
|
Jung W, Kim J, Cho IY, Jeon KH, Song YM. Association between Serum Lipid Levels and Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Korean Adult Population. Korean J Fam Med 2022; 43:334-343. [PMID: 36168906 PMCID: PMC9532192 DOI: 10.4082/kjfm.21.0148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hearing loss (HL) has been suggested to be associated with impaired microcirculation of the inner ear. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate an association between HL and serum lipid levels. Methods The study comprised 10,356 Korean adults who participated in the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010–2012). We defined HL as the average hearing thresholds exceeding 25 dB at predetermined frequency levels by pure tone audiometry. Serum lipid levels were measured using an enzymatic assay. The associations between lipid levels and HL were evaluated using a multiple logistic regression model after adjusting for covariates including age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, smoking status, alcohol, physical activity, educational level, household income, and noise exposure. Stratified analyses were performed to examine the effect of the covariates on the association between lipid levels and HL. Results The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level was inversely associated with high-frequency (HF)-HL, with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 0.78 (0.64–0.96) for 1-mmol/L increase in the HDL-C level. Neither the triglyceride nor the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was associated with HF-HL. For low-frequency HL, association with any of the serum lipid components was absent. A stratified analysis showed that the inverse association between HDL-C levels and HF-HL was evident (P trend <0.05) in some subjects with specific characteristics such as older age (≥65 years), female sex, non-hypertensive state, and non-regular physical activity. However, a significant interaction between HDL-C levels and all of the stratified variables was absent (P for interaction >0.05). Conclusion The HDL-C level has a linear inverse association with the risk of HF-HL. Given the known protective role of HDL-C against atherosclerotic changes, this finding seems to support the concept of impaired microcirculation in the inner ear as a mechanism for HF-HL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wonyoung Jung
- Department of Family Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jiyoung Kim
- Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - In Young Cho
- Department of Family Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Keun Hye Jeon
- Department of Family Medicine, CHA Gumi Medical Center, Gumi, Korea
| | - Yun-Mi Song
- Department of Family Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Corresponding Author: Yun-Mi Song Tel: +82-2-3410-2442, Fax: +82-2-3410-0338, E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Parmar BJ, Rajasingam SL, Bizley JK, Vickers DA. Factors Affecting the Use of Speech Testing in Adult Audiology. Am J Audiol 2022; 31:528-540. [PMID: 35737980 PMCID: PMC7613483 DOI: 10.1044/2022_aja-21-00233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate hearing health care professionals' (HHPs) speech testing practices in routine adult audiology services and better understand the facilitators and barriers to speech testing provision. DESIGN A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted. STUDY SAMPLE A sample (N = 306) of HHPs from the public (64%) and private (36%) sectors in the United Kingdom completed the survey. RESULTS In the United Kingdom, speech testing practice varied significantly between health sectors. Speech testing was carried out during the audiology assessment by 73.4% of private sector HHPs and 20.4% of those from the public sector. During the hearing aid intervention stage, speech testing was carried out by 56.5% and 26.5% of HHPs from the private and public sectors, respectively. Recognized benefits of speech testing included (a) providing patients with relatable assessment information, (b) guiding hearing aid fitting, and (c) supporting a diagnostic test battery. A lack of clinical time was a key barrier to uptake. CONCLUSIONS Use of speech testing varies in adult audiology. Results from this study found that the percentage of U.K. HHPs making use of speech tests was low compared to that of other countries. HHPs recognized different benefits of speech testing in audiology practice, but the barriers limiting uptake were often driven by factors derived from decision makers rather than clinical rationale. Privately funded HHPs used speech tests more frequently than those working in the public sector where time and resources are under greater pressure and governed by guidance that does not include a recommendation for speech testing. Therefore, the inclusion of speech testing in national clinical guidelines could increase the consistency of use and facilitate the comparison of practice trends across centers. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.20044457.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bhavisha J. Parmar
- UCL Ear Institute, University College London, United Kingdom
- Sound Lab, Cambridge Hearing Group, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Deborah A. Vickers
- Sound Lab, Cambridge Hearing Group, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Zhai X, Du H, Shen Y, Zhang X, Chen Z, Wang Y, Xu Z. FCHSD2 is required for stereocilia maintenance in mouse cochlear hair cells. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:jcs259912. [PMID: 35892293 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Stereocilia are F-actin-based protrusions on the apical surface of inner-ear hair cells and are indispensable for hearing and balance perception. The stereocilia of each hair cell are organized into rows of increasing heights, forming a staircase-like pattern. The development and maintenance of stereocilia are tightly regulated, and deficits in these processes lead to stereocilia disorganization and hearing loss. Previously, we showed that the F-BAR protein FCHSD2 is localized along the stereocilia of cochlear hair cells and cooperates with CDC42 to regulate F-actin polymerization and cell protrusion formation in cultured COS-7 cells. In the present work, Fchsd2 knockout mice were established to investigate the role of FCHSD2 in hearing. Our data show that stereocilia maintenance is severely affected in cochlear hair cells of Fchsd2 knockout mice, which leads to progressive hearing loss. Moreover, Fchsd2 knockout mice show increased acoustic vulnerability. Noise exposure causes robust stereocilia degeneration as well as enhanced hearing threshold elevation in Fchsd2 knockout mice. Lastly, Fchsd2/Cdc42 double knockout mice show more severe stereocilia deficits and hearing loss, suggesting that FCHSD2 and CDC42 cooperatively regulate stereocilia maintenance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Zhai
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education , School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Haibo Du
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education , School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Yuxin Shen
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education , School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Xiujuan Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education , School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Zhengjun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology , Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 200031, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yanfei Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education , School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Zhigang Xu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education , School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
- Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of Cell Biology , Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, China
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Xia L, Ripley S, Jiang Z, Yin X, Yu Z, Aiken SJ, Wang J. Synaptopathy in Guinea Pigs Induced by Noise Mimicking Human Experience and Associated Changes in Auditory Signal Processing. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:935371. [PMID: 35873820 PMCID: PMC9298651 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.935371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Noise induced synaptopathy (NIS) has been researched extensively since a large amount of synaptic loss without permanent threshold shift (PTS) was found in CBA mice after a brief noise exposure. However, efforts to translate these results to humans have met with little success—and might not be possible since noise exposure used in laboratory animals is generally different from what is experienced by human subjects in real life. An additional problem is a lack of morphological data and reliable functional methods to quantify loss of afferent synapses in humans. Based on evidence for disproportionate synaptic loss for auditory nerve fibers (ANFs) with low spontaneous rates (LSR), coding-in-noise deficits (CIND) have been speculated to be the major difficulty associated with NIS without PTS. However, no robust evidence for this is available in humans or animals. This has led to a re-examination of the role of LSR ANFs in signal coding in high-level noise. The fluctuation profile model has been proposed to support a role for high-SR ANFs in the coding of high-level noise in combination with efferent control of cochlear gain. This study aimed to induce NIS by a low-level, intermittent noise exposure mimicking what is experienced in human life and examined the impact of the NIS on temporal processing under masking. It also evaluated the role of temporal fluctuation in evoking efferent feedback and the effects of NIS on this feedback.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Xia
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mianyang Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Mianyang, China
| | - Sara Ripley
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Zhenhua Jiang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mianyang Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Mianyang, China
| | - Xue Yin
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mianyang Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Mianyang, China
| | - Zhiping Yu
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Steve J Aiken
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mianyang Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Mianyang, China.,School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Wolf BJ, Kusch K, Hunniford V, Vona B, Kühler R, Keppeler D, Strenzke N, Moser T. Is there an unmet medical need for improved hearing restoration? EMBO Mol Med 2022; 14:e15798. [PMID: 35833443 PMCID: PMC9358394 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202215798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Hearing impairment, the most prevalent sensory deficit, affects more than 466 million people worldwide (WHO). We presently lack causative treatment for the most common form, sensorineural hearing impairment; hearing aids and cochlear implants (CI) remain the only means of hearing restoration. We engaged with CI users to learn about their expectations and their willingness to collaborate with health care professionals on establishing novel therapies. We summarize upcoming CI innovations, gene therapies, and regenerative approaches and evaluate the chances for clinical translation of these novel strategies. We conclude that there remains an unmet medical need for improving hearing restoration and that we are likely to witness the clinical translation of gene therapy and major CI innovations within this decade.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bettina Julia Wolf
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Auditory Neuroscience and Optogenetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany.,Auditory Neuroscience & Synaptic Nanophysiology Group, Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Kusch
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Functional Auditory Genomics Group, Auditory Neuroscience and Optogenetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Victoria Hunniford
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Sensory and Motor Neuroscience PhD Program, Göttingen Graduate Center for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Biosciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Barbara Vona
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Robert Kühler
- Department of Otolaryngology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Daniel Keppeler
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Auditory Neuroscience & Synaptic Nanophysiology Group, Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nicola Strenzke
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Otolaryngology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Collaborative Research Center 889, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Moser
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Auditory Neuroscience and Optogenetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany.,Auditory Neuroscience & Synaptic Nanophysiology Group, Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Collaborative Research Center 889, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Hearing loss drug discovery and medicinal chemistry: Current status, challenges, and opportunities. PROGRESS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 2022; 61:1-91. [PMID: 35753714 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmch.2022.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Hearing loss is a severe high unmet need condition affecting more than 1.5 billion people globally. There are no licensed medicines for the prevention, treatment or restoration of hearing. Prosthetic devices, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, do not restore natural hearing and users struggle with speech in the presence of background noise. Hearing loss drug discovery is immature, and small molecule approaches include repurposing existing drugs, combination therapeutics, late-stage discovery optimisation of known chemotypes for identified molecular targets of interest, phenotypic tissue screening and high-throughput cell-based screening. Hearing loss drug discovery requires the integration of specialist therapeutic area biology and otology clinical expertise. Small molecule drug discovery projects in the global clinical portfolio for hearing loss are here collated and reviewed. An overview is provided of human hearing, inner ear anatomy, inner ear delivery, types of hearing loss and hearing measurement. Small molecule experimental drugs in clinical development for hearing loss are reviewed, including their underpinning biology, discovery strategy and activities, medicinal chemistry, calculated physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetics and clinical trial status. SwissADME BOILED-Egg permeability modelling is applied to the molecules reviewed, and these results are considered. Non-small molecule hearing loss assets in clinical development are briefly noted in this review. Future opportunities in hearing loss drug discovery for human genomics and targeted protein degradation are highlighted.
Collapse
|
38
|
Qi G, Shi L, Qin H, Jiang Q, Guo W, Yu N, Han D, Yang S. Morphology changes in the cochlea of impulse noise-induced hidden hearing loss. Acta Otolaryngol 2022; 142:455-462. [PMID: 35723705 DOI: 10.1080/00016489.2022.2086706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study was focused on impulse noise induces hidden hearing loss. OBJECTIVES This study was designed to determine the morphology changes of noise-induced hidden hearing loss (NIHHL). METHOD Fifteen guinea pigs were divided into three groups: noise-induced hidden hearing loss (NIHHL) group, noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) group, and normal control group. For the NIHHL group, guinea pigs were exposed to 15 times of impulse noise with peak intensity of 163 dB SPL at one time. For the NIHL group, animals were exposed to two rounds of 100 times impulse noise, and the time interval is 24 h. Auditory brain response (ABR) was tested before, immediately, 24 h, one week, and one month after noise exposure to evaluate cochlear physiology changes. One month after noise exposure, all guinea pigs in three groups were sacrificed, and basement membranes were carefully dissected immediately after ABR tests. The cochlea samples were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to find out the morphology changes. RESULT The ABR results showed that 15 times of impulse noise exposure could cause NIHHL in guinea pigs and 200 times could cause completely hearing loss. Impulse noise exposure could cause a dramatic increase of mitochondria in the inner hair cell. The structures of ribbon synapse and heminode were also obviously impaired compared to the normal group. The nerve fiber and myelin sheath remained intact after impulse noise exposure. CONCLUSION This research revealed that impulse noise could cause hidden hearing loss, and the changes in inner hair cells, ribbon synapse, and heminode all played a vital role in the pathogenesis of hidden hearing loss.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guowei Qi
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, The Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, State Key Lab of Hearing Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Lab of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment Beijing, Beijing, China.,Graduate School of Navy, Medical University Shanghai, Shanghai, China.,Graduate School of Chinese, PLA General Hospital Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Shi
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, The Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, State Key Lab of Hearing Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Lab of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment Beijing, Beijing, China.,Graduate School of Chinese, PLA General Hospital Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Handai Qin
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, The Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, State Key Lab of Hearing Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Lab of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment Beijing, Beijing, China.,Graduate School of Chinese, PLA General Hospital Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Qingqing Jiang
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, The Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, State Key Lab of Hearing Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Lab of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Weiwei Guo
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, The Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, State Key Lab of Hearing Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Lab of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Yu
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, The Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, State Key Lab of Hearing Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Lab of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Dongyi Han
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, The Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, State Key Lab of Hearing Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Lab of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Shiming Yang
- Senior Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, The Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Otolaryngologic Diseases, State Key Lab of Hearing Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Lab of Hearing Impairment Prevention and Treatment Beijing, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Population-scale analysis of common and rare genetic variation associated with hearing loss in adults. Commun Biol 2022; 5:540. [PMID: 35661827 PMCID: PMC9166757 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03408-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
To better understand the genetics of hearing loss, we performed a genome-wide association meta-analysis with 125,749 cases and 469,497 controls across five cohorts. We identified 53/c loci affecting hearing loss risk, including common coding variants in COL9A3 and TMPRSS3. Through exome sequencing of 108,415 cases and 329,581 controls, we observed rare coding associations with 11 Mendelian hearing loss genes, including additive effects in known hearing loss genes GJB2 (Gly12fs; odds ratio [OR] = 1.21, P = 4.2 × 10-11) and SLC26A5 (gene burden; OR = 1.96, P = 2.8 × 10-17). We also identified hearing loss associations with rare coding variants in FSCN2 (OR = 1.14, P = 1.9 × 10-15) and KLHDC7B (OR = 2.14, P = 5.2 × 10-30). Our results suggest a shared etiology between Mendelian and common hearing loss in adults. This work illustrates the potential of large-scale exome sequencing to elucidate the genetic architecture of common disorders where both common and rare variation contribute to risk.
Collapse
|
40
|
Foster AC, Jacques BE, Piu F. Hearing loss: The final frontier of pharmacology. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2022; 10:e00970. [PMID: 35599339 PMCID: PMC9124819 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite a prevalence greater than cancer or diabetes, there are no currently approved drugs for the treatment of hearing loss. Research over the past two decades has led to a vastly improved understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms in the cochlea that lead to hearing deficits and the advent of novel strategies to combat them. Combined with innovative methods that enable local drug delivery to the inner ear, these insights have paved the way for promising therapies that are now under clinical investigation. In this review, we will outline this renaissance of cochlear biology and drug development, focusing on noise, age-related, and chemotherapy-induced hearing dysfunction.
Collapse
|
41
|
Ripley S, Xia L, Zhang Z, Aiken SJ, Wang J. Animal-to-Human Translation Difficulties and Problems With Proposed Coding-in-Noise Deficits in Noise-Induced Synaptopathy and Hidden Hearing Loss. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:893542. [PMID: 35720689 PMCID: PMC9199355 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.893542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Noise induced synaptopathy (NIS) and hidden hearing loss (NIHHL) have been hot topic in hearing research since a massive synaptic loss was identified in CBA mice after a brief noise exposure that did not cause permanent threshold shift (PTS) in 2009. Based upon the amount of synaptic loss and the bias of it to synapses with a group of auditory nerve fibers (ANFs) with low spontaneous rate (LSR), coding-in-noise deficit (CIND) has been speculated as the major difficult of hearing in subjects with NIS and NIHHL. This speculation is based upon the idea that the coding of sound at high level against background noise relies mainly on the LSR ANFs. However, the translation from animal data to humans for NIS remains to be justified due to the difference in noise exposure between laboratory animals and human subjects in real life, the lack of morphological data and reliable functional methods to quantify or estimate the loss of the afferent synapses by noise. Moreover, there is no clear, robust data revealing the CIND even in animals with the synaptic loss but no PTS. In humans, both positive and negative reports are available. The difficulty in verifying CINDs has led a re-examination of the hypothesis that CIND is the major deficit associated with NIS and NIHHL, and the theoretical basis of this idea on the role of LSR ANFs. This review summarized the current status of research in NIS and NIHHL, with focus on the translational difficulty from animal data to human clinicals, the technical difficulties in quantifying NIS in humans, and the problems with the SR theory on signal coding. Temporal fluctuation profile model was discussed as a potential alternative for signal coding at high sound level against background noise, in association with the mechanisms of efferent control on the cochlea gain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ripley
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Li Xia
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mianyang Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Mianyang, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Otolaryngology Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Steve J. Aiken
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Jian Wang
- School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mianyang Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Mianyang, China
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Zhang C, Wang M, Lin S, Xie R. Calretinin-Expressing Synapses Show Improved Synaptic Efficacy with Reduced Asynchronous Release during High-Rate Activity. J Neurosci 2022; 42:2729-2742. [PMID: 35165172 PMCID: PMC8973423 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1773-21.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Calretinin (CR) is a major calcium binding protein widely expressed in the CNS. However, its synaptic function remains largely elusive. At the auditory synapse of the endbulb of Held, CR is selectively expressed in different subtypes. Combining electrophysiology with immunohistochemistry, we investigated the synaptic transmission at the endbulb of Held synapses with and without endogenous CR expression in mature CBA/CAJ mice of either sex. Two synapse subtypes showed similar basal synaptic transmission, except a larger quantal size in CR-expressing synapses. During high-rate stimulus trains, CR-expressing synapses showed improved synaptic efficacy with significantly less depression and lower asynchronous release, suggesting more efficient exocytosis than non-CR-expressing synapses. Conversely, CR-expressing synapses had a smaller readily releasable pool size, which was countered by higher release probability and faster synaptic recovery to support sustained release during high-rate activity. EGTA-AM treatment did not change the synaptic transmission of CR-expressing synapses, but reduced synaptic depression and decreased asynchronous release at non-CR-expressing synapses, suggesting that CR helps to minimize calcium accumulation during high-rate activity. Both synapses express parvalbumin, another calcium-binding protein with slower kinetics and higher affinity than CR, but not calbindin. Furthermore, CR-expressing synapses only express the fast isoform of vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGluT1), while most non-CR-expressing synapses express both VGluT1 and the slower VGluT2, which may underlie their lagged synaptic recovery. The findings suggest that, paired with associated synaptic machinery, differential CR expression regulates synaptic efficacy among different subtypes of auditory nerve synapses to accomplish distinctive physiological functions in transmitting auditory information at high rates.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT CR is a major calcium-binding protein in the brain. It remains unclear how endogenous CR impacts synaptic transmission. We investigated the question at the large endbulb of Held synapses with selective CR expression and found that CR-expressing and non-CR-expressing synapses had similar release properties under basal synaptic transmission. During high-rate activity, however, CR-expressing synapses showed improved synaptic efficacy with less depression, lower asynchronous release, and faster recovery. Furthermore, CR-expressing synapses use exclusive VGluT1 to refill synaptic vesicles, while non-CR-expressing synapses use both VGluT1 and the slower isoform of VGluT2. Our findings suggest that CR may play significant roles in promoting synaptic efficacy during high-rate activity, and selective CR expression can differentially impact signal processing among different synapses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chuangeng Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
| | - Meijian Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
| | - Shengyin Lin
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
| | - Ruili Xie
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Seicol BJ, Lin S, Xie R. Age-Related Hearing Loss Is Accompanied by Chronic Inflammation in the Cochlea and the Cochlear Nucleus. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:846804. [PMID: 35418849 PMCID: PMC8995794 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.846804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a major hearing impairment characterized by pathological changes in both the peripheral and central auditory systems. Low-grade inflammation was observed in the cochlea of deceased human subjects with ARHL and animal models of early onset ARHL, which suggests that inflammation contributes to the development of ARHL. However, it remains elusive how chronic inflammation progresses during normal aging in the cochlea, and especially the accompanying changes of neuroinflammation in the central auditory system. To address this, we investigated chronic inflammation in both the cochlea and the cochlear nucleus (CN) of CBA/CaJ mice, an inbred mouse strain that undergoes normal aging and develops human, like-late-onset ARHL. Using immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, and quantitative image processing, we measured the accumulation and activation of macrophages in the cochlea and microglia in the CN using their shared markers: ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) and CD68—a marker of phagocytic activity. We found progressive increases in the area covered by Iba1-labeled macrophages and enhanced CD68 staining in the osseous spiral lamina of the cochlea that correlated with elevated ABR threshold across the lifespan. During the process, we further identified significant increases in microglial activation and C1q deposition in the CN, indicating increased neuroinflammation and complement activation in the central auditory system. Our study suggests that during normal aging, chronic inflammation occurs in both the peripheral and the central auditory system, which may contribute in coordination to the development of ARHL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J. Seicol
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Shengyin Lin
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Ruili Xie
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- *Correspondence: Ruili Xie
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Perez-Flores MC, Verschooten E, Lee JH, Kim HJ, Joris PX, Yamoah EN. Intrinsic mechanical sensitivity of mammalian auditory neurons as a contributor to sound-driven neural activity. eLife 2022; 11:74948. [PMID: 35266451 PMCID: PMC8942473 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanosensation – by which mechanical stimuli are converted into a neuronal signal – is the basis for the sensory systems of hearing, balance, and touch. Mechanosensation is unmatched in speed and its diverse range of sensitivities, reaching its highest temporal limits with the sense of hearing; however, hair cells (HCs) and the auditory nerve (AN) serve as obligatory bottlenecks for sounds to engage the brain. Like other sensory neurons, auditory neurons use the canonical pathway for neurotransmission and millisecond-duration action potentials (APs). How the auditory system utilizes the relatively slow transmission mechanisms to achieve ultrafast speed, and high audio-frequency hearing remains an enigma. Here, we address this paradox and report that the mouse, and chinchilla, AN are mechanically sensitive, and minute mechanical displacement profoundly affects its response properties. Sound-mimicking sinusoidal mechanical and electrical current stimuli affect phase-locked responses. In a phase-dependent manner, the two stimuli can also evoke suppressive responses. We propose that mechanical sensitivity interacts with synaptic responses to shape responses in the AN, including frequency tuning and temporal phase locking. Combining neurotransmission and mechanical sensation to control spike patterns gives the mammalian AN a secondary receptor role, an emerging theme in primary neuronal functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric Verschooten
- Laboratory of Auditory Neurophysiology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | - Philip X Joris
- Laboratory of Auditory Neurophysiology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Kant E, Jwair S, Thomeer HGXM. Hearing preservation in cochlear implant recipients: A cross-sectional cohort study. Clin Otolaryngol 2022; 47:495-499. [PMID: 35263011 PMCID: PMC9314029 DOI: 10.1111/coa.13927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Kant
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Saad Jwair
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hans G X M Thomeer
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Marrufo-Pérez MI, Lopez-Poveda EA. Adaptation to noise in normal and impaired hearing. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 151:1741. [PMID: 35364964 DOI: 10.1121/10.0009802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Many aspects of hearing function are negatively affected by background noise. Listeners, however, have some ability to adapt to background noise. For instance, the detection of pure tones and the recognition of isolated words embedded in noise can improve gradually as tones and words are delayed a few hundred milliseconds in the noise. While some evidence suggests that adaptation to noise could be mediated by the medial olivocochlear reflex, adaptation can occur for people who do not have a functional reflex. Since adaptation can facilitate hearing in noise, and hearing in noise is often harder for hearing-impaired than for normal-hearing listeners, it is conceivable that adaptation is impaired with hearing loss. It remains unclear, however, if and to what extent this is the case, or whether impaired adaptation contributes to the greater difficulties experienced by hearing-impaired listeners understanding speech in noise. Here, we review adaptation to noise, the mechanisms potentially contributing to this adaptation, and factors that might reduce the ability to adapt to background noise, including cochlear hearing loss, cochlear synaptopathy, aging, and noise exposure. The review highlights few knowns and many unknowns about adaptation to noise, and thus paves the way for further research on this topic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam I Marrufo-Pérez
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León, Universidad de Salamanca, Calle Pintor Fernando Gallego 1, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Enrique A Lopez-Poveda
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León, Universidad de Salamanca, Calle Pintor Fernando Gallego 1, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Nolan LS, Chen J, Gonçalves AC, Bullen A, Towers ER, Steel KP, Dawson SJ, Gale JE. Targeted deletion of the RNA-binding protein Caprin1 leads to progressive hearing loss and impairs recovery from noise exposure in mice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2444. [PMID: 35165318 PMCID: PMC8844073 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05657-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell cycle associated protein 1 (Caprin1) is an RNA-binding protein that can regulate the cellular post-transcriptional response to stress. It is a component of both stress granules and neuronal RNA granules and is implicated in neurodegenerative disease, synaptic plasticity and long-term memory formation. Our previous work suggested that Caprin1 also plays a role in the response of the cochlea to stress. Here, targeted inner ear-deletion of Caprin1 in mice leads to an early onset, progressive hearing loss. Auditory brainstem responses from Caprin1-deficient mice show reduced thresholds, with a significant reduction in wave-I amplitudes compared to wildtype. Whilst hair cell structure and numbers were normal, the inner hair cell-spiral ganglion neuron (IHC-SGN) synapse revealed abnormally large post-synaptic GluA2 receptor puncta, a defect consistent with the observed wave-I reduction. Unlike wildtype mice, mild-noise-induced hearing threshold shifts in Caprin1-deficient mice did not recover. Oxidative stress triggered TIA-1/HuR-positive stress granule formation in ex-vivo cochlear explants from Caprin1-deficient mice, showing that stress granules could still be induced. Taken together, these findings suggest that Caprin1 plays a key role in maintenance of auditory function, where it regulates the normal status of the IHC-SGN synapse.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa S Nolan
- UCL Ear Institute, 332 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8EE, UK
- Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Jing Chen
- Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | | | - Anwen Bullen
- UCL Ear Institute, 332 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8EE, UK
| | - Emily R Towers
- UCL Ear Institute, 332 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8EE, UK
| | - Karen P Steel
- Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Sally J Dawson
- UCL Ear Institute, 332 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8EE, UK.
| | - Jonathan E Gale
- UCL Ear Institute, 332 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8EE, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Fetoni AR, Pisani A, Rolesi R, Paciello F, Viziano A, Moleti A, Sisto R, Troiani D, Paludetti G, Grassi C. Early Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Accelerates Presbycusis Altering Aging Processes in the Cochlea. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:803973. [PMID: 35197842 PMCID: PMC8860087 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.803973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies identified hearing loss as a risk factor for aging-related processes, including neurodegenerative diseases, as dementia and age-related hearing loss (ARHL). Although the association between hearing impairment in midlife and ARHL has been widely documented by epidemiological and experimental studies, the molecular mechanisms underlying this association are not fully understood. In this study, we used an established animal model of ARHL (C57BL/6 mice) to evaluate if early noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) could affect the onset or progression of age-related cochlear dysfunction. We found that hearing loss can exacerbate ARHL, damaging sensory-neural cochlear epithelium and causing synaptopathy. Moreover, we studied common pathological markers shared between hearing loss and ARHL, demonstrating that noise exposure can worsen/accelerate redox status imbalance [increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, lipid peroxidation, and dysregulation of endogenous antioxidant response] and vascular dysfunction [increased expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGFC)] in the cochlea. Unveiling the molecular mechanisms underlying the link between hearing loss and aging processes could be valuable to identify effective therapeutic strategies to limit the effect of environmental risk factors on age-related diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rita Fetoni
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Pisani
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Rolando Rolesi
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabiola Paciello
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Fabiola Paciello,
| | - Andrea Viziano
- Department of Physics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Arturo Moleti
- Department of Physics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Renata Sisto
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority (INAIL), Rome, Italy
| | - Diana Troiani
- Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Gaetano Paludetti
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Grassi
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Wang M, Xu L, Han Y, Wang X, Chen F, Lu J, Wang H, Liu W. Regulation of Spiral Ganglion Neuron Regeneration as a Therapeutic Strategy in Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 14:829564. [PMID: 35126054 PMCID: PMC8811300 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.829564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the mammalian cochlea, spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) are the primary neurons on the auditory conduction pathway that relay sound signals from the inner ear to the brainstem. However, because the SGNs lack the regeneration ability, degeneration and loss of SGNs cause irreversible sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Besides, the effectiveness of cochlear implant therapy, which is the major treatment of SNHL currently, relies on healthy and adequate numbers of intact SGNs. Therefore, it is of great clinical significance to explore how to regenerate the SGNs. In recent years, a number of researches have been performed to improve the SGNs regeneration strategy, and some of them have shown promising results, including the progress of SGN regeneration from exogenous stem cells transplantation and endogenous glial cells’ reprogramming. Yet, there are challenges faced in the effectiveness of SGNs regeneration, the maturation and function of newly generated neurons as well as auditory function recovery. In this review, we describe recent advances in researches in SGNs regeneration. In the coming years, regenerating SGNs in the cochleae should become one of the leading biological strategies to recover hearing loss.
Collapse
|
50
|
Knipper M, Singer W, Schwabe K, Hagberg GE, Li Hegner Y, Rüttiger L, Braun C, Land R. Disturbed Balance of Inhibitory Signaling Links Hearing Loss and Cognition. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 15:785603. [PMID: 35069123 PMCID: PMC8770933 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.785603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal hyperexcitability in the central auditory pathway linked to reduced inhibitory activity is associated with numerous forms of hearing loss, including noise damage, age-dependent hearing loss, and deafness, as well as tinnitus or auditory processing deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In most cases, the reduced central inhibitory activity and the accompanying hyperexcitability are interpreted as an active compensatory response to the absence of synaptic activity, linked to increased central neural gain control (increased output activity relative to reduced input). We here suggest that hyperexcitability also could be related to an immaturity or impairment of tonic inhibitory strength that typically develops in an activity-dependent process in the ascending auditory pathway with auditory experience. In these cases, high-SR auditory nerve fibers, which are critical for the shortest latencies and lowest sound thresholds, may have either not matured (possibly in congenital deafness or autism) or are dysfunctional (possibly after sudden, stressful auditory trauma or age-dependent hearing loss linked with cognitive decline). Fast auditory processing deficits can occur despite maintained basal hearing. In that case, tonic inhibitory strength is reduced in ascending auditory nuclei, and fast inhibitory parvalbumin positive interneuron (PV-IN) dendrites are diminished in auditory and frontal brain regions. This leads to deficits in central neural gain control linked to hippocampal LTP/LTD deficiencies, cognitive deficits, and unbalanced extra-hypothalamic stress control. Under these conditions, a diminished inhibitory strength may weaken local neuronal coupling to homeostatic vascular responses required for the metabolic support of auditory adjustment processes. We emphasize the need to distinguish these two states of excitatory/inhibitory imbalance in hearing disorders: (i) Under conditions of preserved fast auditory processing and sustained tonic inhibitory strength, an excitatory/inhibitory imbalance following auditory deprivation can maintain precise hearing through a memory linked, transient disinhibition that leads to enhanced spiking fidelity (central neural gain⇑) (ii) Under conditions of critically diminished fast auditory processing and reduced tonic inhibitory strength, hyperexcitability can be part of an increased synchronization over a broader frequency range, linked to reduced spiking reliability (central neural gain⇓). This latter stage mutually reinforces diminished metabolic support for auditory adjustment processes, increasing the risks for canonical dementia syndromes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marlies Knipper
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Center (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Marlies Knipper,
| | - Wibke Singer
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Center (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schwabe
- Experimental Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Gisela E. Hagberg
- Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University Hospital Tübingen (UKT), Tübingen, Germany
- High-Field Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Yiwen Li Hegner
- MEG Center, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Center of Neurology, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lukas Rüttiger
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Center (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christoph Braun
- MEG Center, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Center of Neurology, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Land
- Department of Experimental Otology, Institute for Audioneurotechnology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|