Murine autoimmune hearing loss mediated by CD4(+) T cells specific for beta-tubulin

作者：Zhou Bin; Kermany Mohammad Habiby; Glickstein Jonathan; Cai Qing; Cai Chun; Zhou Yixuan; Nair Usha; Kim Jun Woo; Kim Patrick; Liu Wenxia; Kanangat Siva; Yoo Tai June^*

来源：Clinical Immunology, 2011, 138(2): 222-230.

DOI：10.1016/j.clim.2010.11.007

• Autoimmune inner
• ear disease
• Autoimmunity
• Hearing loss

Autoimmune inner ear disease is described as progressive, bilateral although asymmetric, sensorineural hearing loss and can be improved by immunosuppressive therapy. We showed that the inner ear autoantigen beta-tubulin is capable of inducing experimental autoimmune hearing loss (EAHL) in mice. Immunization of BALB/c mice with beta-tubulin resulted in hair cell loss and hearing loss, effects that were not seen in animals immunized with control peptide. Moreover, the EAHL model showed that beta-tubulin responsiveness involved CD4(+) T cells producing IFN-gamma, and T cell mediation of EAHL was determined by significantly increased auditory brainstem response after adoptive transfer of beta-tubulin-activated CD4(+) T cells into naive BALB/c recipients. The potential mechanisms responsible for the observed pathology of EAHL can be attributed to decreased frequency and impaired suppressive function of regulatory T cells. Our study suggests that EAHL may be a T cell-mediated organ-specific autoimmune disorder of the inner ear. Published by Elsevier Inc.

• 出版日期2011-2