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Diabetic Hyperglycemia Induces Region-Specific Transcriptomic Remodeling in the Cochlea
Ting-Yu Chang1, Cheng-Tien Wu2, Fong-Ling Chung3
1Institute of Toxicology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan.
Genes
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Diabetes causes hearing loss by altering cochlear gene expression. This study reveals region-specific molecular changes in the diabetic cochlea, offering insights into auditory dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Oto-genomics
- Molecular biology
- Diabetes research
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus is a known risk factor for sensorineural hearing loss.
- The specific molecular mechanisms within the cochlea underlying this complication are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate auditory function in a mouse model of diabetes.
- To characterize region-specific transcriptomic alterations in the diabetic cochlea.
Main Methods:
- Established streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes in mice.
- Assessed auditory function using auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing.
- Performed RNA sequencing on micro-dissected cochlear regions (modiolus, lateral wall, organ of Corti) followed by differential expression and gene ontology analyses.
Main Results:
- Diabetic mice exhibited elevated ABR thresholds compared to controls.
- RNA sequencing identified region-specific transcriptomic changes, most notably in the lateral wall.
- A shared transcriptional signature of 32 upregulated and 2 downregulated genes was found across all analyzed cochlear regions.
- Gene Ontology analysis revealed enrichment in immune, inflammatory, metabolic stress, and membrane-associated signaling pathways.
Conclusions:
- Diabetes is linked to elevated ABR thresholds and distinct cochlear transcriptomic alterations.
- These findings provide a valuable transcriptomic resource for understanding diabetes-associated auditory dysfunction.
- Further research with larger cohorts and advanced techniques is warranted.
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