Immunochemical Markers of Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to detect changes in the serum concentrations of cytokines, heat shock proteins (HSP27 and HSP70), and antibodies against neural proteins, as well as to estimate their informational value in patients suffering from sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The study involved 38 men employed as flying personnel (flight instructors, aircraft commanders, and flight engineers) and 21 otherwise healthy men of comparable age. We detected specific cytokines that participate in immune inflammatory process in SNHL. The cytokine imbalance in the participants was characterized by excessive activation of the major inflammatory (IL-1β, TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4) cytokines, and a decrease in IL-2. Cytokine deregulation was accompanied by diminishment of HSP70 concentration, a HSP with immunomodulatory action. It was shown that neuroimmune reorganization manifested as enhancement of production of autoantibodies against neural proteins, in particular, S-100 and voltage-dependent calcium channels, which may be regarded as markers of the autoimmune process in SNHL. These results revealed the most informative indices that may be recommended as additional criteria in the diagnosis of SNHL.