title: Immunological damage to the inner ear: current and future therapeutic strategies.
abstract: There is considerable evidence to suggest that hearing and vestibular function can be influenced by immunity in the inner ear. While immunity can protect against infections of the labyrinth, immune response also has the capacity to damage the delicate tissues of the inner ear. Antigenic challenge of the inner ear of sensitized animals leads to rapid accumulation of leukocytes, antibody production, hearing loss and tissue damage. Moreover, a number of systemic autoimmune disorders include hearing loss and vertigo as part of their constellation of symptoms. It also appears that autoimmune damage can exist as an entity confined to the labyrinth. Immune disorders of the inner ear are of special interest since they are among the few forms of hearing loss that are currently amenable to medical treatment. In addition, recent developments in understanding the intracellular pathways that participate in damage to the inner ear provide new opportunities for pharmacotherapy of immune-mediated disorders of hearing and balance.
authors.affiliation: Department of a Surgery/Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego 92093, USA. afryan@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Allen F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Kwang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pak
authors.forename: Wesley
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mullen
authors.forename: Jeffrey P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Keithley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003051:Cochlea / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000639:trends*; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005544:Forecasting; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009925:Organ of Corti / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013256:Steroids
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D013256:Steroids