Background
MD represents a challenging otologic disorder for investigation. Despite attempts to define the pathogenesis of MD, there remain many gaps in our understanding, including differences in protein expression within the inner ear. Understanding these changes may facilitate the identification of more targeted therapies for MD.
Conclusion
The results of this study support that there may be differences in the expression of proteins related to ionic homeostasis and barrier function within the cochlea, potentially supporting the role of targeted therapies to treat MD.
Methods
Human temporal bones from patients with MD (n = 8) and age-matched control patients (n = 8) were processed with immunohistochemistry stains to detect known protein expression related to ionic homeostasis and barrier function in the cochlea, including CLDN11, CLU, KCNJ10, and SLC12A2. Immunofluorescence intensity analysis was performed to quantify protein expression in the stria vascularis, organ of Corti, and spiral ganglion neuron (SGN).
Results
Expression of KCNJ10 was significantly reduced in all cochlear regions, including the stria vascularis (9.23 vs 17.52, p = 0.011), OC (14.93 vs 29.16, p = 0.014), and SGN (7.69 vs 18.85, p = 0.0048) in human temporal bone specimens from patients with MD compared with control, respectively. CLDN11 (7.40 vs 10.88, p = 0.049) and CLU (7.80 vs 17.51, p = 0.0051) expression was significantly reduced in the SGN.