Acute noise causes down-regulation of ECM protein expression in guinea pig cochlea

Abstract

ObjectiveTo study the differences in cochlea protein expression before and after noise exposure using proteomics to reveal the pathological mechanism of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). MethodsA guinea pig NIHL model was established to test the ABR thresholds before and after noise exposure. The proteomics technology was used to study the mechanism of differential protein expression in the cochlea by noise stimulation. ResultsThe average hearing threshold of guinea pigs on the first day after noise exposure was 57.00{+/-}6.78dB SPL, high-frequency hearing loss was more severe than low frequency; the average hearing threshold on the seventh day after noise exposure was 45.83{+/-}6.07dB SPL, and the 4k Hz hearing threshold has the best recovery. The proteomics technology identified 3122 different inner ear proteins, of which six proteins related to the hearing were down-regulation: TenascinC, Collagen type XI alpha two chains, Collagen type II alpha one chain, Thrombospondin 2, Collagen type XI alpha one chain and Ribosomal protein L38, and are enriched in protein absorption, focal adhesion, and extracellular matrix receptor pathways. ConclusionImpulse noise can affect the expression of differential proteins through focal adhesion pathways. This data can provide an experimental basis for the research on the prevention and treatment of NIHL.