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- Title
Exploring the link between noise-induced trauma and peripheral inflammation.
- Authors
De Backer, E.; Verdoodt, D.; Aben, F.; Sels, L.; Szewczyk, K.; Zanoletti, L.; Ponsaerts, P.; Van Rompaey, V.; Pasciuto, E.
- Abstract
Traditionally, the cochlea has been considered as an immunological privileged site, as the blood-labyrinth barrier provides isolation from the systemic immune system. However, the presence of immune cells in the cochlea has been recently reported, suggesting that immune-mediated processes can play a crucial role within the auditory system. In this context, both protective and detrimental T-cell functions have been linked to normal hearing and hearing loss, respectively, thereby emphasizing the dual role of T cells in cochlear health. Current knowledge also suggests that a balanced presence and activity of T cells is crucial for tissue homeostasis in the cochlea, avoiding pathologies such as age-related hearing loss and autoimmune inner ear diseases. Although cochlea-resident T cells are scarce under physiological conditions, the number of T cells appear to rise in response to acoustic trauma revealing the active recruitment of peripheral immune cells through cochlear blood vessels. In order to evaluate the induction of a peripheral inflammatory response upon noise trauma, we exposed mice to excessive noise (115 dB) for two hours. Hearing levels were determined 72 h and 1 week after noise-exposure, which revealed a substantial increase in hearing thresholds in all mice. To evaluate if the auditory stimulation would trigger a peripheral immune response we isolated splenocytes and analyzed cytokine production in different immune subsets by high parametric flow cytometry. The analyses revealed increased activation of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, illustrated by significant increases in the expression of INF-γ, TNF and CD44. These data suggest a peripheral component in the elevated inflammatory response following acoustic trauma. Future research will be performed to explore the link between noise-induced hearing loss, peripheral inflammation and more specifically antigen-specificity of the observed increase in activated CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell populations.
- Subjects
POLAND; WOUNDS &; injuries; T cells; HOMEOSTASIS; NOISE; IMMUNE system; CONFERENCES &; conventions; PRESBYCUSIS; INFLAMMATION; COCHLEA
- Publication
Journal of Hearing Science, 2024, Vol 14, Issue 3, p125
- ISSN
2083-389X
- Publication type
Article