Berberine chloride protects cochlear hair cells from aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity by reducing the accumulation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species.

Aminoglycoside, a medicinal category of antibiotics, are used in treatment of Gram-negative bacterial infections. Although they are the most widely-used antibiotics due to their high efficacy and low cost, several main adverse effects have been reported including nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. Since drug-induced ototoxicity is one of the major etiological causes of acquired hearing loss, we examined cochlear hair cell damages caused by three aminoglycosides (amikacin, kanamycin, and gentamicin), and investigated protective property of an isoquinoline-type alkaloid, Berberine chloride (BC).

Identification of novel missense mutation related with non-syndromic sensorineural deafness, DFNA11 in korean family by NGS.

Backgound: Hereditary hearing loss is one of the most common genetically heterogeneous defects in human. About 70% of hereditary hearing loss is defined as non-syndromic hearing loss showing loss of hearing ability without any other symptoms. Up to date, the identified genes associated with non-syndromic hearing loss are 128, including 52 genes for DFNA and 76 genes for DFNB.

Protective effect of berberine chloride against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.

Background: Cisplatin (CP) is an effective anticancer drug broadly used for various types of cancers, but it has shown ototoxicity that results from oxidative stress. Berberine has been reported for its anti-oxidative stress suggesting its therapeutic potential for many diseases such as colitis, diabetes, and vascular dementia.

Objective: Organ of Corti of postnatal day 3 mouse cochlear explants were used to compare hair cells after the treatment with cisplatin alone or with berberine chloride (BC) followed by CP.

Fursultiamine Prevents Drug-Induced Ototoxicity by Reducing Accumulation of Reactive Oxygen Species in Mouse Cochlea.

Drug-induced hearing loss is a major type of acquired sensorineural hearing loss. Cisplatin and aminoglycoside antibiotics have been known to cause ototoxicity, and excessive accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) are suggested as the common major pathology of cisplatin- and aminoglycoside antibiotics-induced ototoxicity. Fursultiamine, also called thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide, is a thiamine disulfide derivative that may have antioxidant effects.

KL1333, a derivative of β-lapachone, protects against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in mouse cochlear cultures.

Cisplatin (CP) is a chemotherapeutic drug used to treat cancerous solid tumors, but it causes serious side effects, including ototoxicity. The major cause of CP-induced ototoxicity is increased levels of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we examined the effect of 2-Isopropyl-3H-naphtho(1,2-d)imidazole-4,5-dione (KL1333), a β-lapachone derivative, on CP-induced ototoxicity using ex vivo organotypic culture system of cochlea.

Modified U1 snRNA and antisense oligonucleotides rescue splice mutations in SLC26A4 that cause hereditary hearing loss.

One of most important factors for messenger RNA (mRNA) transcription is the spliceosomal component U1 small nuclear RNA (snRNA), which recognizes 5' splicing donor sites at specific regions in pre-mRNA. Mutations in these sites disrupt U1 snRNA binding and cause abnormal splicing. In this study, we investigated mutations at splice sites in SLC26A4 (HGNC 8818), one of the major causative genes of hearing loss, which may result in the synthesis of abnormal pendrin, the channel protein encoded by the gene.

Correction to: Exocyst Complex Member EXOC5 Is Required for Survival of Hair Cells and Spiral Ganglion Neurons and Maintenance of Hearing.

The original article contains an error for a grant number in the Acknowledgements section.

Therapeutic potential of the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ in mitochondrial-ROS induced sensorineural hearing loss caused by Idh2 deficiency.

Mitochondrial NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) is a major NADPH-producing enzyme which is essential for maintaining the mitochondrial redox balance in cells. We sought to determine whether IDH2 deficiency induces mitochondrial dysfunction and modulates auditory function, and investigated the protective potential of an antioxidant agent against reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced cochlear damage in Idh2 knockout (Idh2) mice. Idh2 deficiency leads to damages to hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) in the cochlea and ultimately to apoptotic cell death and progressive sensorineural hearing loss in Idh2 mice.

Evaluating protective and therapeutic effects of alpha-lipoic acid on cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.

Cisplatin, a small platinum-containing molecule, is a widely used, highly effective anticancer drug. However, severe side effects have been found in cancer patients treated with cisplatin, including nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and ototoxicity. These cisplatin-induced side effects can have a major impact on patient quality of life, including social development problems in pediatric patients that develop hearing loss.

Effective PEI-mediated delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 complex for targeted gene therapy.

The-state-of-art CRISPR/Cas9 is one of the most powerful among the approaches being developed to rescue fundamental causes of gene-based inheritable diseases. Several strategies for delivering such genome editing materials have been developed, but the safety, efficacy over time, cost of production, and gene size limitations are still under debate and must be addressed to further improve applications. In this study, we evaluated branched forms of the polyethylenimine (PEI) - branched PEI 25 kDa (BPEI-25K) - and found that it could efficiently deliver CRISPR/Cas9 plasmids.

Exocyst Complex Member EXOC5 Is Required for Survival of Hair Cells and Spiral Ganglion Neurons and Maintenance of Hearing.

The exocyst, an octameric protein complex consisting of Exoc1 through Exoc8, was first determined to regulate exocytosis by targeting vesicles to the plasma membrane in yeast to mice. In addition to this fundamental role, the exocyst complex has been implicated in other cellular processes. In this study, we investigated the role of the exocyst in cochlear development and hearing by targeting EXOC5, a central exocyst component.

Identification of a novel splicing mutation within SLC17A8 in a Korean family with hearing loss by whole-exome sequencing.

Hereditary hearing loss (HHL) is a common genetically heterogeneous disorder, which follows Mendelian inheritance in humans. Because of this heterogeneity, the identification of the causative gene of HHL by linkage analysis or Sanger sequencing have shown economic and temporal limitations. With recent advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques, rapid identification of a causative gene via massively parallel sequencing is now possible.

A novel missense variant in the DIAPH1 gene in a Korean family with autosomal dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss.

Hair cells in the cochlea display highly regulated actin polymerization, which is mediated by the human diaphanous-related formin 1 gene (DIAPH1; also called DFNA1, DIA1). DFNA1, the first type of autosomal dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss (ADNSHL), is known to be associated with mutations in DIAPH1. However, no genetic study of DFNA1 in Koreans with hearing loss has yet been reported.

Genetic association of MYH genes with hereditary hearing loss in Korea.

Background: Myosin is a key protein involved in regulating the shape and motility of cells. The MYH9 and MYH14 genes, which encode non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA (NMMHC II-A) and IIC (NMMHC II-C), respectively, are expressed in the inner ear. These myosin genes are known to be associated with autosomal dominant non-syndromic hearing loss (ADNSHL); however, genetic studies in patients with ADNSHL in Korea have rarely been reported.

A Novel Frameshift Mutation of in a Korean Family With Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss and Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct.

Objectives: We aimed to identify the causative mutation for siblings in a Korean family with nonsyndromic hearing loss (HL) and enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA). The siblings were a 19-year-old female with bilateral profound HL and an 11-year-old male with bilateral moderately severe HL.

Methods: We extracted genomic DNA from blood samples of the siblings with HL, their parents, and 100 controls.

Dynamin Binding Protein (Tuba) Deficiency Inhibits Ciliogenesis and Nephrogenesis in Vitro and in Vivo.

Dysfunction of renal primary cilia leads to polycystic kidney disease. We previously showed that the exocyst, a protein trafficking complex, is essential for ciliogenesis and regulated by multiple Rho and Rab family GTPases, such as Cdc42. Cdc42 deficiency resulted in a disruption of renal ciliogenesis and a polycystic kidney disease phenotype in zebrafish and mice.

Identification of a nonsense mutation in the STRC gene in a Korean family with moderate hearing loss.

Hereditary hearing loss is a heterogeneous disorder that results in a common sensorineural disorder. To date, more than 150 loci and 89 genes have been reported for non-syndromic hearing loss. Next generation sequencing has recently been developed as a powerful genetic strategy for identifying pathogenic mutations in heterogeneous disorders with various causative genes.

Pannexin 3 is required for normal progression of skeletal development in vertebrates.

The vertebrate skeletal system has various functions, including support, movement, protection, and the production of blood cells. The development of cartilage and bones, the core components of the skeletal system, is mediated by systematic inter- and intracellular communication among multiple signaling pathways in differentiating progenitors and the surrounding tissues. Recently, Pannexin (Panx) 3 has been shown to play important roles in bone development in vitro by mediating multiple signaling pathways, although its roles in vivo have not been explored.

Cdc42 and sec10 Are Required for Normal Retinal Development in Zebrafish.

Purpose: To characterize the function and mechanisms of cdc42 and sec10 in eye development in zebrafish.

Methods: Knockdown of zebrafish cdc42 and sec10 was carried out using antisense morpholino injection. The phenotype of morphants was characterized by histology, immunohistology, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

A post-developmental genetic screen for zebrafish models of inherited liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease such as simple steatosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis and fibrosis. However, the molecular pathogenesis and genetic variations causing NAFLD are poorly understood. The high prevalence and incidence of NAFLD suggests that genetic variations on a large number of genes might be involved in NAFLD.

Identification of causative mutation in a Korean family with Crouzon syndrome using whole exome sequencing.

Craniosynostosis is a heterogeneous disorder that results in a common malformation which causes premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was recently developed as a powerful genetic strategy for identifying pathogenic mutations of heterogeneous disorders with various causative genes. A 24-year-old woman visited our department for evaluation of persistent hearing impairment and absence of an external auditory canal from birth.

Exocyst Sec10 protects renal tubule cells from injury by EGFR/MAPK activation and effects on endocytosis.

Acute kidney injury is common and has a high mortality rate, and no effective treatment exists other than supportive care. Using cell culture models, we previously demonstrated that exocyst Sec10 overexpression reduced damage to renal tubule cells and speeded recovery and that the protective effect was mediated by higher basal levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. The exocyst, a highly-conserved eight-protein complex, is known for regulating protein trafficking.

Identification of pathogenic mechanisms of COCH mutations, abolished cochlin secretion, and intracellular aggregate formation: genotype-phenotype correlations in DFNA9 deafness and vestibular disorder.

Mutations in COCH (coagulation factor C homology) cause autosomal-dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss with variable degrees of clinical onset and vestibular malfunction. We selected eight uncharacterized mutations and performed immunocytochemical and Western blot analyses to track cochlin through the secretory pathway. We then performed a comprehensive analysis of clinical information from DFNA9 patients with all 21 known COCH mutations in conjunction with cellular and molecular findings to identify genotype-phenotype correlations.

The exocyst and regulatory GTPases in urinary exosomes.

Cilia, organelles that function as cellular antennae, are central to the pathogenesis of "ciliopathies", including various forms of polycystic kidney disease (PKD). To date, however, the molecular mechanisms controlling ciliogenesis and ciliary function remain incompletely understood. A recently proposed model of cell-cell communication, called "urocrine signaling", hypothesizes that a subset of membrane bound vesicles that are secreted into the urinary stream (termed exosome-like vesicles, or ELVs), carry cilia-specific proteins as cargo, interact with primary cilia, and affect downstream cellular functions.