Molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of hydrogen-saturated saline on noise-induced hearing loss

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of the protective effects of hydrogen-saturated saline on NIHL.

Methods: Guinea pigs were divided into three groups: hydrogen-saturated saline; normal saline; and control. For saline administration, the guinea pigs were given daily abdominal injections 3 d before and 1 h before noise exposure. ABR were tested to examine cochlear physiology changes. The changes of 8-hydroxy-desoxyguanosine (8-HOdG), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) in the cochlea were also examined.

Results: The results showed that pre-treatment with hydrogen-saturated saline could significantly attenuate noise-induced hearing loss. The concentration of 8-HOdG was also significantly decreased in the hydrogen-saturated saline group compared with the normal saline group. After noise exposure, the concentrations of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and ICAM-1 in the cochlea of guinea pigs in the hydrogen-saturated saline group were dramatically reduced compared to those in the normal saline group. The concentrations of HMGB-1 and IL-10 in the hydrogen-saturated saline group were significantly higher than in those in the normal saline group immediately and at 7 d after noise exposure.

Conclusions: This study revealed for the first time the protective effects of hydrogen-saturated saline on noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) are related to both the anti-oxidative activity and anti-inflammatory activity.

Chinese abstract

目的：本研究旨在探讨氢饱和盐水对NIHL的保护作用的分子机制。

方法：将豚鼠分为三组：氢饱和盐水组、生理盐水组、控制组。豚鼠在噪声暴露之前的3天内每天以及暴露前1小时进行盐水腹部注射。检测ABR以检查耳蜗生理变化。还检查了耳蜗中的8-羟基脱氧鸟苷（8-HOdG）、白细胞介素-1（IL-1）、白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、白细胞介素-10（IL-10）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α） ）、细胞间粘附分子-1（ICAM-1）和高迁移率组box-1蛋白（HMGB1）的变化。

结果：结果表明, 用氢饱和盐水预处理可显著减弱噪声引起的听力损失。与生理盐水组相比, 饱和盐水组的8-HOdG浓度也显著降低。噪声暴露后, 饱和盐水组豚鼠耳蜗中IL-1、IL-6、TNF-α、ICAM-1的浓度明显低于生理盐水组。噪声暴露后, 饱和盐水组中HMGB-1和IL-10的浓度立即显着高于生理盐水组, 7天以后也同样如此。

结论：本研究首次揭示氢饱和盐水对噪声诱发的听力损失（NIHL）的保护作用与抗氧化活性和抗炎活性有关。

Keywords:

• Hydrogen-saturated saline
• noise-induced hearing loss
• anti-inflammatory
• anti-oxidative

View correction statement:

Correction to: Chen L, et al., Molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of hydrogen-saturated saline on noise-induced hearing loss

Acknowledgements

We greatly appreciate the valuable technical assistance of Mr Zihui Deng.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program: No. 2012CB967900, No. 2014CB541706), the Natural National Science Foundation of China (No. 81241034, No. 81271081) and New Researcher Foundation of The PLA General Hospital (No. 12KMM07).