Experimental Study For Treating Autoimmune Sensorineural Hearing Loss With Injecting Immunological Regulation Gene In Inner Ear Of Guinea Pig

Objective: To evaluate affects of treating autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss with transferring Fas Ligand (FasL) gene and interleukin 10 (IL-10) gene into inner ear in guinea pig.Methods: The conspecific crude inner ear antigens (CIEAgs) were prepared and used to immunize guinea pigs with Freund's adjuvant and autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL) were induced in 28 animals. We divided them into four groups by matched-pairs design. Through the way of micro-injecting into scala tympani, adenovirus vector containing FasL (Ad-FasL) gene were implanted in group A, adenovirus vector containing IL-10(Ad-IL-10) gene were implanted in group B, adenovirus were marked with yellow fluorescent protein (Ad5-EYFP) were implanted in group C,and buffer phosphate were implanted in group D. 7 days later, The thresholds of auditory brainstem response (ABR) were determined, temporal bone paraffin section was made and observed under the light microscope, the ultrastructure of spiral ligament and basilar membrane was observed with transmission electron microscope, and the immunohistochemistry tests were made for detecting adenovirus vector transfection with immunofluorescence and the gene product expressions with enzyme immunohistochemistry.Results: Immunohistochemistry test showed that the adenovirus carrying purpose gene could transfer the psalterial cord, spiral ligament, Corti organ, spiral ganglion, cochlear axis vessels and cochlear bone paries, and the gene product (IL-10 or FasL) could generate in same sites. Contrasting between each group, the mean thresholds of ABRâ…¢wave in group A and group B were lower than that in group C and group D. The immunological inflammatory response was lighter in group A and group B than in group C and group D.Conclusion: The adenovirus vector containing immunity regulating gene injecting into inner ear was one of feasible method for treating ASNHL. The adenovirus could transfer and genes could express its products in many parts of inner ear, and which can reduce the immunity damage and hearing functional impairment. We believe that it would become a hopeful new therapy and way for treating ASNHL.