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Spatio-temporal pattern of c-Jun N-terminal kinase isoforms in the cochleae of C57BL/6J mice with presbycusis

Rui Ding1, Yi Pan1, Kaili Chen1

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Hearing Research
|May 12, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Age-related hearing loss involves changes in c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) isoforms within the cochlea. JNK3 shows increased expression in hair cells, suggesting a key role in hearing loss and nerve degeneration.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway is crucial for regulating cell death and survival.
  • Understanding JNK isoform dynamics is important for addressing age-related hearing loss.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the spatio-temporal changes of all JNK isoforms (JNK1, JNK2, JNK3) in the cochlea of aging C57BL/6J mice with age-related hearing loss.
  • To examine JNK isoform expression in a senescent hair cell model.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemistry staining
  • Western blotting
  • Utilized C57BL/6J mice model of presbycusis and HEI-OC1 cell line.

Main Results:

  • All three JNK isoforms are present in the cochlea, with distinct patterns in hair cells, spiral ganglion neurons, and stria vascularis.
  • JNK1, JNK2, and JNK3 levels exhibited varied spatio-temporal changes in aging mice.
  • JNK3 was highly expressed in hair cells and its expression increased with age-related hearing loss, mirroring changes in the senescent cell model.

Conclusions:

  • JNK isoforms display significant spatio-temporal alterations in the aging cochlea.
  • JNK3 plays a potentially critical role in age-related hair cell loss and spiral ganglion degeneration, exceeding previous assumptions.
Keywords:
Hair cellJNKPresbycusisSpiral ganglionStria vascularis

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