Development of novel therapies for noise related hearing impairment based on the pathophysiology

Abstract

We studied noise-induced hearing impairment, including haring loss and tinnitus, aiming to develop a novel therapeutic strategy based on the detailed pathophysiology. First, we found a new noise-related gene, NRF2, polymorphism used by the medical checkup performed in the National Self Defense Force of Japan. We next conducted pathophysiological analysis using a blast-induced hearing loss animal model. As results, we confirmed the synapse degeneration on the inner hair cells after blast exposure, which was consistent with cochlear synaptopathy. By using this model, we could study tinnitus behaviors after blast exposure on rats and the neuroplastic changes in the limbic system were observed on the rats with tinnitus. Now, we are planning to develop a novel therapy for noise-related hearing impairment by using a safe virus vector.