title: A case-control study on proinflammatory genetic polymorphisms on sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is strictly related to inner ear vascular injuries and recently to some atherosclerotic risk factors. The pathogenic role of inflammatory molecules in atherosclerosis is well established. However, there is little knowledge about the potential role of inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules on SSNHL etiology.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of proinflammatory genetic polymorphisms of the MCP-1 (CCL2), E-selectin, and interleukin (IL)-6 gene in SSNHL patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the frequency and distribution of selected single nucleotide polymorphisms of the MCP-1 (CCL2), E-selectin, and IL-6 gene in 87 SSNHL patients and 107 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results did not show significant difference between the compared groups for MCP-1 and E-selectin genes, whereas a significant difference was reported for the IL-6 gene (P < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main finding of our study is that the 174G/G polymorphism (with a wider distribution of wt/wt genotype in SSNHL patients than in the healthy controls) of the IL-6 gene is significantly associated with the risk of SSNHL, which is consistent with a previous finding on serum levels of IL-6 in SSNHL. It is possible that the variant acts as a triggering agent of different lipidemia-related phenotypes. Both the -174G/G polymorphism and elevated IL-6 levels in SSNHL patients could suggest that IL-6 plays a role in the inner ear involvement by atherosclerotic inflammatory events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cadoni
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gaetani
authors.forename: Pasqualina M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Picciotti
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arzani
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quarta
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giannantonio
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paludetti
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boccia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000235:genetics; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D019040:E-Selectin; D015850:Interleukin-6
keywords: E-selectin; MCP-1 (CCL2); Polymorphisms; inflammatory molecules; interleukin-6 gene; sudden sensorineural hearing loss