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Identifying microRNAs involved in aging of the lateral wall of the cochlear duct

Qian Zhang1, Huizhan Liu1, Garrett A Soukup1

  • 1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America.

Plos One
|November 19, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Age-related hearing loss involves inner ear degeneration. This study reveals that aging alters microRNA (miRNA) expression in mice, with downregulated miRNAs affecting cell growth and upregulated miRNAs promoting apoptosis, offering insights into hearing decline.

Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is a progressive sensorineural condition.
  • Key pathological changes include degeneration of the organ of Corti and cochlear duct atrophy.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial regulators of cellular senescence and aging processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate miRNA gene expression profiles in the inner ear's lateral wall during aging.
  • To identify age-dynamic miRNAs and their potential regulatory targets in two mouse strains.
  • To explore the role of miRNAs in age-related cochlear changes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of miRNA gene expression profiles in the lateral wall of aging C57 and CBA mice.
  • Utilized apoptosis-related gene arrays.
  • Employed bioinformatic approaches for miRNA target prediction.

Main Results:

  • Identified 95 differentially expressed miRNAs in aging C57 mice and 60 in aging CBA mice.
  • Downregulated miRNAs predominantly target cell proliferation and differentiation pathways.
  • Upregulated miRNAs are primarily associated with pro-apoptotic pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Aging significantly alters miRNA expression in the mouse inner ear lateral wall.
  • Candidate miRNAs and their predicted targets involved in apoptosis pathways were identified.
  • These findings contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying age-related hearing loss.

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