title: Polymorphisms in genes involved in inflammatory pathways in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
abstract: Although the etiology of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) remains unclear, the pathologically increased permeability of blood vessels, elucidated by gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), suggests the involvement of inflammation. Because SSNHL is considered a multifactorial disease, possibly caused by interactions between genetic factors and environmental factors, the authors investigated the associations of polymorphisms of inflammatory mediator genes with susceptibility to SSNHL. The authors compared 72 patients affected by SSNHL and 2010 adults (1010 men and 1000 women; mean age 59.2 years; range 40-79) who participated in the National Institute for Longevity Sciences Longitudinal Study of Aging. Multiple logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (ORs) for SSNHL in subjects with polymorphisms in the genes IL-6 C - 572G, IL-4R G1902A, IL-10 A - 592C, TNFα C - 863A, TNFRSF1B G593A, VEGF C936T, VEGF C - 2578A, and VEGF G - 1154A, with adjustment for age, gender, and any history of hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia. The per-allele OR for the risk of SSNHL in subjects bearing IL-6 C - 572G was 1.480 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.037-2.111) in model 1 (no adjustment), 1.463 (CI, 1.022-2.094) in model 2 (adjusted for age and gender), and 1.460 (CI, 1.016-2.097) in model 3 (adjusted for age, gender, and a history of hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia). Under the dominant model of inheritance, the ORs were 1.734 (CI, 1.080-2.783) in model 1, 1.690 (CI, 1.050-2.721) in model 2, and 1.669 (CI, 1.035-2.692) in model 3. The remaining seven polymorphisms failed to show any associations with the risk of SSNHL. These data need to be confirmed on larger series of patients. In conclusion, the IL-6 C - 572G polymorphism is associated with a risk of SSNHL. Because permeability of blood vessels in the inner ear is frequently increased in patients with SSNHL, inflammation of the inner ear might be involved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hiramatsu
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teranishi
authors.forename: Yasue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nishio
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Hironao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Otake
authors.forename: Tadao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Mitsuhiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tagaya
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Michihiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sone
authors.forename: Saiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sugiura
authors.forename: Fujiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimokata
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakashima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6