Exploring novel therapeutic targets by using a newly generated autoimmune hearing loss transgenic mouse model

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24390390
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Otorhinolaryngology
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: OGAWA Kaoru 慶應義塾大学, 医学部, 教授 (00169179)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): FUJIOKA Masato 慶應義塾大学, 医学部, 助教 (70398626) ; KANZAKI Sho 慶應義塾大学, 医学部, 講師 (50286556) ; HARADA Tatsuhiko 慶應義塾大学, 医学部, 客員講師 (60238186)
• Research Collaborator: EDGE Albert ハーバード大学, 耳科喉頭科, 教授
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 自己免疫性難聴 / メニエール病 / 感音難聴

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Sensorineural hearing loss due to the dysfunction in the inner ear is intractable. Both clinical and experimental evidences, for instance autoreactive antibody or target antigens, suggest autoimmunity may result in the deafness. We have developed a transgenic mouse model that recapitulate the disruption of tolerance to the inner ear hair cells by using HA-antigen overexpression systems. Data demonstrated that the CD4 positive T-cell mediated autoimmunity to hair cells resulted in cochlear hearing loss with vestibuler dysfunction. Further analyses will be examined for finding therapeutic targets.

Free Research Field

耳科学、聴覚医学