G6PD overexpression protects from oxidative stress and age-related hearing loss.

Aging of the auditory system is associated with the incremental production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the accumulation of oxidative damage in macromolecules, which contributes to cellular malfunction, compromises cell viability, and, ultimately, leads to functional decline. Cellular detoxification relies in part on the production of NADPH, which is an important cofactor for major cellular antioxidant systems. NADPH is produced principally by the housekeeping enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the pentose phosphate pathway. We show here that G6PD transgenic mice (G6PD-Tg), which show enhanced constitutive G6PD activity and NADPH production along life, have lower auditory thresholds than wild-type mice during aging, together with preserved inner hair cell (IHC) and outer hair cell (OHC), OHC innervation, and a conserved number of synapses per IHC. Gene expression of antioxidant enzymes was higher in 3-month-old G6PD-Tg mice than in wild-type counterparts, whereas the levels of pro-apoptotic proteins were lower. Consequently, nitration of proteins, mitochondrial damage, and TUNEL+ apoptotic cells were all lower in 9-month-old G6PD-Tg than in wild-type counterparts. Unexpectedly, G6PD overexpression triggered low-grade inflammation that was effectively resolved in young mice, as shown by the absence of cochlear cellular damage and macrophage infiltration. Our results lead us to propose that NADPH overproduction from an early stage is an efficient mechanism to maintain the balance between the production of ROS and cellular detoxification power along aging and thus prevents hearing loss progression.

[Effect of Electroacupuncture on Expression of Catechol-O-methyltransferase in the Inferior Colliculus and Auditory Cortex in Age-related Hearing Loss Guinea Pigs].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) in inferior colliculus and auditory cortex of guinea pigs with age-related hearing loss(AHL) induced by D-galactose, so as to explore the possible mechanism of electroacupuncture(EA) underlying preventing AHL. METHODS: Thirty 3-month-old guinea pigs were randomly divided into control group, model group and EA group(n=10 in each group), and ten 18-month-old guinea pigs were allocated as elderly group. The AHL model was established by subcutaneous injection of D-galactose. EA was applied to bilateral "Yifeng"(SJ 17) and "Tinggong"(SI 19) for 15 min in the EA group while modeling, once daily for 6 weeks. After treatment, the latency of auditory brainstem response(ABR) Ⅲ wave was measured by a brain-stem evoked potentiometer. The expressions of COMT in the inferior colliculus and auditory cortex were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the latencies of ABR Ⅲ wave were significantly prolonged and the expressions of COMT in the inferior colliculus and auditory cortex were significantly decreased in the model group and the elderly group(P<0.05). After the treatment, the latency of ABR Ⅲ wave was significantly shortened and the expressions of COMT in the inferior colliculus and auditory cortex were significantly increased in the EA group in comparison with the model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EA at "Yifeng" (SJ 17) and "Tinggong" (SI 19) can improve the hearing of age-related deafness in guinea pigs, which may contribute to its effect in up-regulating the expression of COMT in the inferior colliculus and auditory cortex.

Audioprofiles and antioxidant enzyme genotypes in presbycusis.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Audiometric patterns have been shown to indirectly provide information regarding the pathophysiology of presbycusis and be useful in the phenotyping of hereditary deafness. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Hospital-based cohort study of adults with presbycusis, comparing the association of audiometric patterns and polymorphisms of antioxidant enzymes that have been linked to presbycusis: GSTT1, GSTM1 and NAT2. All subjects underwent a clinical evaluation and completed questionnaires regarding ototoxicity and noise exposure. Pure-tone threshold audiometry was obtained and subjects' audiograms were classified into specific patterns. DNA was extracted from blood and the polymorphisms of GSTT1, GSTM1, and the NAT2 variants (NAT2* 5A; NAT2* 6A,B) were analyzed by PCR. RESULTS: The audiometric patterns that were more prevalent in our cohort were "High-Frequency Steeply Sloping" or HFSS (33%), "High-Frequency Gently Sloping" or HFGS (31%), and "Flat" (27%), with other patterns being rare. We did not find a statistical significant effect of gender, age, hearing level, and ear side on the audiometric pattern. Subjects with mutant alleles for GSTT1 were more likely to have a HFSS audiogram than subjects with the wild type genotype. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, there was a similar prevalence for the three audiometric configurations HFSS, HFGS, and Flat, with other configurations being rare. Subjects with mutant alleles for GSTT1 were more likely to have a HFSS audiogram than subjects with the wild type genotype, suggesting that the basal turn of the cochlea is susceptible to GSTT1 regulated oxidative stress. However, further studies of audioprofiles with larger sample sizes may be needed to establish phenotype-genotype correlations in presbycusis.

Adenosine kinase inhibition in the cochlea delays the onset of age-related hearing loss.

This study was undertaken to determine the role of adenosine signalling in the development of age-related hearing loss (ARHL). We and others have shown previously that adenosine signalling via A(1) receptors is involved in cochlear protection from noise-induced cochlear injury. Here we demonstrate that enhanced adenosine signalling in the cochlea provides partial protection from ARHL in C57BL/6J mice. We targeted adenosine kinase (ADK), the key enzyme in adenosine metabolism, using a treatment regime with the selective ADK inhibitor ABT-702 (1.5mg/kg intraperitoneally twice a week) commencing at the age of three months or six months. This treatment, intended to increase free adenosine levels in the cochlea, was maintained until the age of nine months and hearing thresholds were evaluated monthly using auditory brainstem responses (ABR). At nine months, when C57BL/6J mice normally exhibit significant ARHL, both groups treated with ABT-702 showed lower ABR threshold shifts at 10 and 16kHz compared to control animals receiving the vehicle solution. The better thresholds of the ABT-702-treated mice at these frequencies were supported by increased survival of hair cells in the apical region of the cochlea. This study provides the first evidence that ARHL can be mitigated by enhancing adenosine signalling in the cochlea.

Antioxidant enzymes, presbycusis, and ethnic variability.

OBJECTIVE: A proposed mechanism for presbycusis is a significant increase in oxidative stress in the cochlea. The enzymes glutathione S-transferase (GST) and N-acetyltransferase (NAT) are two classes of antioxidant enzymes active in the cochlea. In this work, we sought to investigate the association of different polymorphisms of GSTM1, GSTT1, and NAT2 and presbycusis and analyze whether ethnicity has an effect in the genotype-phenotype associations. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study of 134 DNA samples. SETTING: University-based tertiary care center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Clinical, audiometric, and DNA testing of 55 adults with presbycusis and 79 control patients with normal hearing. RESULTS: The GSTM1 null genotype was present in 77 percent of white Hispanics and 51 percent of white non-Hispanics (Fisher's exact test, 2-tail, P = 0.0262). The GSTT1 null genotype was present in 34 percent of control patients and in 60 percent of white presbycusis subjects (P = 0.0067, odds ratio [OR] = 2.843, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.379-5.860). The GSTM1 null genotype was more frequent in presbycusis subjects, i.e., 48 percent of control patients and 69 percent of white subjects carried this deletion (P = 0.0198, OR = 2.43, 95% CI = 1.163-5.067). The NAT2*6A mutant genotype was more frequent among subjects with presbycusis (60%) than in control patients (34%; P = 0.0086, OR = 2.88, 95% CI = 1.355-6.141). CONCLUSION: We showed an increased risk of presbycusis among white subjects carrying the GSTM1 and the GSTT1 null genotype and the NAT*6A mutant allele. Subjects with the GSTT1 null genotypes are almost three times more likely to develop presbycusis than those with the wild type. The GSTM1 null genotype was more prevalent in white Hispanics than in white non-Hispanics, but the GSTT1 and NAT2 polymorphisms were equally represented in the two groups.

N-acetyltransferase 2 gene polymorphism and presbycusis.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The enzyme of N-acetyltransferase (NAT) is involved in the metabolism and detoxification of cytotoxic and carcinogenic compounds as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS). The excessive amount of ROS generation occurs in the ageing inner ear. The exact etiopathogenesis of presbycusis is not known, but it is generally accepted that it is the result of series of insults, such as physiologic age-related degeneration, noise exposure, medical disorders and their treatment, as well as hereditary susceptibility. The effect of aging shows a wide interindividual range; we aimed to investigate whether profiles of NAT2 genotypes may be associated with the risk of presbycusis. STUDY DESIGN: Hospital-based, case-control study. METHODS: We examined 68 adults with presbycusis and 98 healthy controls. DNA was extracted from whole blood, and the polymorphisms of NAT2*5A, NAT2*6A, NAT2*7A/B, and NAT2*14A were determined using a real-time polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence resonance energy transfer with a Light-Cycler Instrument. Associations between specific genotypes and the development of presbycusis were examined by use of logistic regression analyses to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Gene polymorphisms at NAT2*5A, NAT2*7A/B, and NAT2*14A in subjects with presbycusis were not significantly different from in the controls (P > .05). However, in NAT2*6A, the risk of presbycusis was 15.2-fold more in individuals with mutant allele than subjects with wild genotype (P = .013). Individuals with NAT2*6A heterozygote allele had a 0.34-fold less risk in the development of presbycusis than subjects with mutant allele (P = .032) CONCLUSION: We demonstrated a significant association between the NAT2*6A polymorphism and age-related hearing loss in this population. However, the sample size was relatively small, and further studies need to investigate the exact role of NAT2 gene polymorphism in the etiopathogenesis of the presbycusis.

[Effects of mtDNA deletion associated with abnormal expression in rat cochlear with presbycusis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of the common deletion (4834-bp) of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in rat cochlear with presbycusis. METHODS: The mtDNA 4834-bp deletion was analyzed by PCR. The mitochondrial-encoded cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COXI) transcript level and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity were measured by RT-PCR and histochemical methods respectively. RESULTS: The 4834-bp deletion occurred in all the senescent rat cochlear. The COXI transcript level was decreased associated with the decline of COX activity. CONCLUSION: The mtDNA 4834-bp deletion presented in the rat cochlear with presbycusis, which lead to the decrease of COXI transcript level and COX activity, may play an important role in the pathogens of presbycusis.

Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase immunolabeling in aged human temporal bones.

Presbycusis, an age-related hearing loss, is accompanied by histopathological cochlear changes including variable amounts of degeneration of the auditory receptors, neurons and the stria vascularis. The causes of degeneration are unknown, although acoustic trauma and exposure to ototoxic agents are certainly contributors to the cellular degeneration. Acquired mitochondrial DNA defects are postulated as important determinants of aging in neuromuscular tissues. The cochlear neurons are highly metabolic and are, therefore, likely to be affected by mitochondrial DNA defects. Sequence analysis has demonstrated a significant number of acquired mutations in the cytochrome oxidase gene in the neurons from aged human cochleas. The current study used immunohistochemical labeling of cytochrome oxidase in the neuronal cell bodies in archival celloidin sections to evaluate relationships among label density, hearing loss, number of neurons and mitochondrial DNA changes within individual cochleas. Label density was less in many aged temporal bones, but not all. There was no relationship among any other variables. It is concluded that while there may be a decrease in the amount of cytochrome oxidase expression in aged spiral ganglion cell bodies, there are many other factors that contribute to hearing loss and cellular degeneration.

Expression patterns of ion transport enzymes in spiral ligament fibrocytes change in relation to strial atrophy in the aged gerbil cochlea.

Fibrocytes of the lateral wall function in conjunction with the stria vascularis (StV) to mediate cochlear ion homeostasis. Age-related changes in the expression patterns of ion transport enzymes in spiral ligament fibrocytes were investigated to ascertain their relation to metabolic presbyacusis in the gerbil. Immunoreactivity of fibrocytes for Na,K-ATPase (Na,K), carbonic anhydrase isozyme II (CA) and creatine kinase isozyme BB (CK) varied among and within cochleas from aged but not from young gerbils. The variable immunostaining was related to the extent and location of StV atrophy. Age-dependent degeneration and loss of Na,K in the StV occurred predominantly in the apex and lower base and hook of the cochlea, largely sparing more central regions. Immunostaining intensity for Na,K, CK, and CA in fibrocytes changed in relation to declines in strial marginal cell Na,K initially showing upregulation followed by downregulation. Spiral ligament fibrocytes in cochleas with more than two remaining normal turns often disclosed overexpression of CK in regions of strial atrophy. Conversely, CA in such cochleas was often increased in regions of normal StV adjacent to foci of atrophic StV. Senescent cochleas with two or fewer functional turns generally contained fibrocytes with diminished CK or CA immunoreactivity in regions of atrophic StV but in isolated instances exhibited fibrocytes with enhanced staining. Heightened staining for CK in type Ia fibrocytes underlying regions of complete or partial strial atrophy indicated an increased metabolic demand in fibrocytes in response to strial insufficiency. The findings provide further support for the role of spiral ligament fibrocytes in cochlear fluid and ion homeostasis.

Temporal bone analysis of patients with presbycusis reveals high frequency of mitochondrial mutations.

Presbycusis is a histologically and genetically heterogenous group of disorders, which lead to progressive, primarily sensorineural hearing loss with aging. Acquired mitochondrial DNA defects have been proposed as important determinants of aging, particularly in neuro-muscular tissues. The spiral ganglion and membranous labyrinth from archival temporal bones of 5 patients with presbycusis were examined for mutations within the mitochondrially-encoded cytochrome oxidase II gene. When compared to controls, results indicate that mitochondrial mutations in the peripheral auditory system occur commonly with age-related hearing loss, that there is great individual variability in both quantity and location of mutation accumulation, and that at least a proportion of presbycusis patients have a highly significant load of mutations in auditory tissue. This work supports the hypothesis that acquired mitochondrial mutations are a determinant of hearing loss in a subgroup of presbycusis patients.

Decline in the endocochlear potential corresponds to decreased Na,K-ATPase activity in the lateral wall of quiet-aged gerbils.

The ion transport-mediating enzyme, Na,K-ATPase, is abundantly present in the cochlear lateral wall. This enzyme is essential for the generation and maintenance of the endocochlear potential. Diminished enzyme activity has been observed previously in the lateral wall of quiet-aged gerbils. The present study was designed to investigate the impact of the age-related decline in Na,K-ATPase specific activity upon auditory function. Measures of the resting endocochlear potential value and the level of Na,K-ATPase specific activity were made in cochleae obtained from gerbils aged in quiet conditions. Analysis revealed a high degree of correspondence between the level of lateral wall Na,K-ATPase specific activity and the value of the endocochlear potential measured in the round window/turn 1 region of the cochlea. Nonlinear regression models showed a strong relationship between the age-related reductions in enzyme activity and the magnitude of the endocochlear potential. The data suggest that during metabolic presbyacusis a decrease in Na,K-ATPase specific activity can explain most, but not all, of the decline in the endocochlear potential.

Status of cochlear Na,K-ATPase in the aged SHR rat and its possible role in hearing loss.

The relationship between levels of Na,K-ATPase isoforms was studied in the lateral walls of the cochlea in aged spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Dense staining for the enzyme's alpha 1 subunit was found especially in the basal turns of the cochlea, while external sulcal cells were more intensely stained in the more apical turns in both SHR and WKY rats. In contrast, staining for beta 1 Na,K-ATPase was demonstrable in significant levels in the stria vascularis and suprastrial regions of the SHR rat, with involvement of the basilar suprastrial region pronounced in both strains of animals. Findings suggest a spatially defined, age-induced alteration in cochlear homeostasis with a possible consequent effect on sound perception.