Murine CMV-Induced Hearing Loss Is Associated with Inner Ear Inflammation and Loss of Spiral Ganglia Neurons

PLoS Pathogens

Stipan Jonjic¹  Mijo Golemac¹  Ester Pernjak Pugel¹  Young-Gun Yoo²  William J. Britt²  Russell D. Bradford² 

[1] Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia;Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America

关键词: Deafness;    Cochlea;    Inner ear;    Ganglia;    Ear infections;    Mouse models;    Animal models of infection;    Neurons;   

DOI  :  10.1371/journal.ppat.1004774

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Public Library of Science

【 摘 要 】

Congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) occurs in 0.5–1% of live births and approximately 10% of infected infants develop hearing loss. The mechanism(s) of hearing loss remain unknown. We developed a murine model of CMV induced hearing loss in which murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection of newborn mice leads to hematogenous spread of virus to the inner ear, induction of inflammatory responses, and hearing loss. Characteristics of the hearing loss described in infants with congenital HCMV infection were observed including, delayed onset, progressive hearing loss, and unilateral hearing loss in this model and, these characteristics were viral inoculum dependent. Viral antigens were present in the inner ear as were CD3+ mononuclear cells in the spiral ganglion and stria vascularis. Spiral ganglion neuron density was decreased after infection, thus providing a mechanism for hearing loss. The lack of significant inner ear histopathology and persistence of inflammation in cochlea of mice with hearing loss raised the possibility that inflammation was a major component of the mechanism(s) of hearing loss in MCMV infected mice.

【 授权许可】

CC BY