The NLRP3 inflammasome as a target for sensorineural hearing loss

Grace E Gregory; Kevin J Munro; Kevin N Couper; Omar N Pathmanaban; David Brough

doi:10.1016/j.clim.2023.109287

The NLRP3 inflammasome as a target for sensorineural hearing loss

Clin Immunol. 2023 Apr:249:109287. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2023.109287. Epub 2023 Mar 11.

Authors

Grace E Gregory¹, Kevin J Munro², Kevin N Couper³, Omar N Pathmanaban⁴, David Brough⁵

Affiliations

¹ Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK; Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, The Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance NHS Group, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; The Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
² Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.
³ Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, The Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance NHS Group, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; The Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
⁴ Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK; Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, The Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance NHS Group, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; The Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Department of Neurosurgery, Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, UK. Electronic address: Omar.pathmanaban@manchester.ac.uk.
⁵ Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK; Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, The Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance NHS Group, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; The Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. Electronic address: David.brough@manchester.ac.uk.

PMID: 36907540
DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2023.109287

Abstract

Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss in adults and occurs due to damage of the inner ear caused by a range of factors including ageing, excessive noise, toxins, and cancer. Auto-inflammatory disease is also a cause of hearing loss and there is evidence that inflammation could contribute to hearing loss in other conditions. Within the inner ear there are resident macrophage cells that respond to insults and whose activation correlates with damage. The NLRP3 inflammasome is a multi-molecular pro-inflammatory protein complex that forms in activated macrophages and may contribute to hearing loss. The aim of this article is to discuss the evidence for the NLRP3 inflammasome and associated cytokines as potential therapeutic targets for sensorineural hearing loss in conditions ranging from auto-inflammatory disease to tumour-induced hearing loss in vestibular schwannoma.

Keywords: Cochlea; Inflammation; Interleukin-1; NLRP3 inflammasome; Sensorineural hearing loss.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Ear, Inner* / metabolism
Hearing Loss* / complications
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural* / etiology
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural* / metabolism
Humans
Inflammasomes / metabolism
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / metabolism

Substances

Inflammasomes
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding