Using Interteaching to Promote Online Learning Outcomes.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, educators have been forced to rapidly transition away from in-person learning environments to completely online formats. Many of these educators have had little or no training and experience teaching online, contributing to stress and anxiety. To compound this problem even further, there are a multitude of online learning technologies from which to choose that can be relatively costly and require an intensive production process. In an effort to provide immediate relief to those dealing with this problem, we detail how interteaching, an empirically supported behavioral teaching technique, can be used to cultivate an interactive online learning environment in either an asynchronous or synchronous format. Specifically, we describe some best practices and provide some examples on how to generate active student responding (ASR) as well as provide pinpointed performance-based feedback. We specifically reference the relatively easy-to-use online software Kaltura, but it is hoped that our suggestions inspire others to develop and use these strategies across a variety of platforms in effort to provide evidence-based quality education during this crisis.

Mononuclear-cell-derived microparticles attenuate endothelial inflammation by transfer of miR-142-3p in a CD39 dependent manner.

Plasma microparticles (MP) bear functional active ectonucleotidases of the CD39 family with implications in vascular inflammation. MP appear to be able to fuse with cells and transfer genetic information. Here, we tested whether levels of different immunomodulatory microRNAs (miRs) in plasma MP are modulated by CD39 after experimental hepatectomy. We further investigated whether horizontal transfer of miR-142-3p between mononuclear (MNC) and endothelial cells via MP is regulated by purinergic signaling. Partial hepatectomy was performed in C57BL/6 wild type and Cd39 null mice. MP were collected via ultracentrifugation. MNC were stimulated with nucleotides and nucleosides, in vitro, and tested for miR-142-3p levels. Fusion of MNC-derived MP and endothelial cells with subsequent transfer of miR-142-3p was imaged by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Endothelial inflammation and apoptosis were quantified after transfection with miR-142-3p. Significantly lower miR-142-3p levels were observed in plasma MP of Cd39 null mice after partial hepatectomy, when compared to C57BL/6 wild types (p < 0.05). In contrast to extracellular nucleotides, anti-inflammatory adenosine significantly increased miR-142-3p levels in MNC-derived MP, in vitro (p < 0.05). MNC-derived MP are able to transfer miR-142-3p to endothelial cells by fusion. Transfection of endothelial cells with miR-142-3p decreased TNF-α levels (p < 0.05) and endothelial apoptosis (p < 0.05). MiR-142-3p levels in MNC-derived MP are modulated by nucleoside signaling and might reflect compensatory responses in vascular inflammation. Our data suggest the transfer of genetic information via shed MP as a putative mechanism of intercellular communication-with implications in organ regeneration.

Spray-Dried Nanoparticle-in-Microparticle Delivery Systems (NiMDS) for Gene Delivery, Comprising Polyethylenimine (PEI)-Based Nanoparticles in a Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Matrix.

Nucleic acid-based therapies rely on efficient formulations for nucleic acid protection and delivery. As nonviral strategies, polymeric and lipid-based nanoparticles have been introduced; however, biological efficacy and biocompatibility as well as poor storage properties due to colloidal instability and their unavailability as ready-to-use systems are still major issues. Polyethylenimine is the most widely explored and promising candidate for gene delivery. Polyethylenimine-based polyplexes and their combination with liposomes, lipopolyplexes, are efficient for DNA or siRNA delivery in vitro and in vivo. In this study, a highly potent spray-dried nanoparticle-in-microparticle delivery system is presented for the encapsulation of polyethylenimine-based polyplexes and lipopolyplexes into poly(vinyl alcohol) microparticles, without requiring additional stabilizing agents. This easy-to-handle gene delivery device allows prolonged nanoparticle storage and protection at ambient temperature. Biological analyses reveal further advantages regarding profoundly reduced cytotoxicity and enhanced transfection efficacies of polyethylenimine-based nanoparticles from the nanoparticle-in-microparticle delivery system over their freshly prepared counterparts, as determined in various cell lines. Importantly, this nanoparticle-in-microparticle delivery system is demonstrated as ready-to-use dry powder to be an efficient device for the inhalative delivery of polyethylenimine-based lipopolyplexes in vivo, as shown by transgene expression in mice after only one administration.

Mold metabolites drive rheumatoid arthritis in mice via promotion of IFN-gamma- and IL-17-producing T cells.

Environmental factors have been discussed as triggers for autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the role of chemical exposures in activation or exacerbation of RA is not clarified yet. Exposure of DBA/1 mice to the mold metabolites ochratoxin A (OTA) or deoxynivalenol (DON) increased the prevalence and the clinical severity of RA compared to un-exposed mice using an experimental collagen-induced arthritis model. Mycotoxin-exposed mice showed enhanced serum IgG1 and IgG2a levels and an elevated production of IL-1ß and IL-6 in inflamed joints and of IFN-γ and IL-17 in splenocytes. Additionally, OTA and DON increased the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in activated murine macrophages and supported the differentiation of naïve T cells into Th1 cells, while treatment of CD4+T cells with the supernatant from mycotoxin-exposed macrophages induced IL-17 production. Furthermore, exposure of mice to OTA or DON enhanced the gene expression of Stat1, Stat3 and Stat4 in the spleen while the collagen-induced increase of Socs1 and Socs3 was abolished. Our results demonstrate that mycotoxins increase the susceptibility to develop RA via an enhanced stimulation of macrophages and promotion of Th1/Th17 cell differentiation by induction of Stat signalling pathways and down-regulation of the Socs-mediated feedback inhibition.

Spatial Surveillance of Childhood Lead Exposure in a Targeted Screening State: An Application of Generalized Additive Models in Denver, Colorado.

CONTEXT: The targeted nature of Colorado's childhood lead screening program presents several analytical issues that complicate routine epidemiologic surveillance. OBJECTIVES: To analyze spatial patterns of childhood lead exposure among children younger than 6 years, identifying areas of increased risk along with associated covariates. METHODS: We analyzed a spatial case-control data set of childhood lead poisoning using generalized additive models. Incident cases were represented by the residential locations of children younger than 6 years with confirmed elevated blood lead levels (EBLL) of 5 µg/dL or more recorded between calendar years 2010 and 2014, and controls were sampled from the population at risk. We modeled the effect of spatial location, adjusting for potential spatial confounders. We also adjusted for a number of covariates previously identified in the childhood lead poisoning literature to understand the ecologic-level drivers of spatial variation in risk. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Crude and adjusted spatial odds ratios describing the relative frequency of lead poisoning among different locations in Denver, Colorado. RESULTS: We found evidence of statistically significant spatial clustering in incident cases of lead poisoning even after adjustment for age, sex, year, season, and spatially smoothed screening rate. Spatial confounder-adjusted odds ratios in the Denver study area ranged from 0.22 to 2.7. Adjusting for additional ecologic-level covariates effectively accounted for the observed spatial variation. We found that ecologic-level indicators of low socioeconomic status, Hispanic ethnicity, Asian race, and older housing age were all positively and significantly associated with an increased EBLL risk. CONCLUSION: Housing and socioeconomic factors continue to be the primary ecologic risk factors associated with childhood lead exposure and can be used to predict risk at a fine spatial resolution in the Denver study area. Our analysis demonstrates how other targeted screening states can be proactive about childhood lead surveillance within their major population centers and enhance the spatial specificity of lead mitigation efforts.

Correlation of cell-free DNA plasma concentration with severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND: The assessment of fibrosis and inflammatory activity is essential to identify patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) at risk for progressive disease. Serum markers and ultrasound-based methods can replace liver biopsy for fibrosis staging, whereas non-invasive characterization of inflammatory activity remains a clinical challenge. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is a novel non-invasive biomarker for assessing cellular inflammation and cell death, which has not been evaluated in NAFLD. METHODS: Patients and healthy controls from two previous studies were included. NAFLD disease activity and severity were non-invasively characterized by liver stiffness measurement (transient elastography, TE) including steatosis assessment with controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), single-proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) for determination of hepatic fat fraction, aminotransferases and serum ferritin. cfDNA levels (90 and 222 bp fragments) were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: Fifty-eight NAFLD patients (age 62 ± 11 years, BMI 28.2 ± 3.5 kg/m2) and 13 healthy controls (age 38 ± 12 years, BMI 22.4 ± 2.1 kg/m2) were included. 90 bp cfDNA levels were significantly higher in NAFLD patients compared to healthy controls: 3.7 (1.3-23.1) vs. 2.9 (1.4-4.1) ng/mL (p = 0.014). In the NAFLD cohort, circulating cfDNA correlated significantly with disease activity and severity, especially in patients with elevated liver stiffness (n = 13, 22%) compared to cases with TE values ≤7 kPa: cf90 bp 6.05 (2.41-23.13) vs. 3.16 (1.29-7.31) ng/mL (p < 0.001), and cf222 bp 14.41 (9.27-22.90) vs. 11.32 (6.05-18.28) ng/mL (p = 0.0041). CONCLUSIONS: Cell-free DNA plasma concentration correlates with established non-invasive markers of NAFLD activity and severity. Therefore, cfDNA should be further evaluated as biomarker for identifying patients at risk for progressive NAFLD.

Syndecan-1 regulates dendritic cell migration in cutaneous hypersensitivity to haptens.

In human dendritic cells (DCs), we previously demonstrated in vitro that syndecan-1 (SDC1) is downregulated during maturation correlating with enhanced motility. We investigated the effects of SDC1 on DC migration in vivo during TNCB(2,4,6-trinitro-1-chlorobenzene)-induced cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction (CHS) in mice. We show that DC in SDC1-deficient mice migrated faster and at a higher rate to lymph nodes draining the hapten-painted skin. Adoptive transfer of SDC1-deficient hapten- and fluorochrome-labelled DC into wild-type (WT) mice led to increased and faster migration of DC to paracortical lymph nodes, and to a stronger CHS compared to WT DC. In SDC1-/- mice, CCR7 remains longer on the DC surface within the first 15-minutes maturation (after LPS-induced maturation). In addition, a time-dependent upregulation of CCL2, CCL3, VCAM1 and talin was found during maturation in SDC1-/- DC. However, no difference in T-cell-stimulating capacity of SDC1-deficient DC was found compared to WT DC. Mechanistically, SDC1-deficient DC showed enhanced migration towards CCL21 and CCL19. This may result from functional overexpression of CCR7 in SDC1-/- DC. Increased and accelerated migration of otherwise functionally intact SDC1-deficient DC leads to an exacerbated CHS. Based on our results, we conclude that SDC1 on DC negatively regulates DC migration.

Allergen-Induced IL-6 Regulates IL-9/IL-17A Balance in CD4+ T Cells in Allergic Airway Inflammation.

IL-9-secreting Th9 cells have been considered to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of atopic diseases. To what extent IL-9-producing cells are induced or regulated by sensitization with naturally occurring allergens is not yet clear. Naturally occurring allergens are capable of inducing IL-6 production in dendritic cells (DCs). Whether allergen-induced IL-6 supports a Th9 subtype by increasing IL-9 production, as observed in in vitro studies, or rather favors Th17 differentiation is not finally resolved. Therefore, in the present study we have investigated the impact of IL-6 on the Th9/Th17 balance depending on the predominant cytokine milieu and, additionally, in vivo using a DC-driven murine asthma model. In vitro, IL-6 increases Th9 cells under strong IL-4 and TGF-ß activation, whereas under moderate IL-4 and TGF-ß activation the presence of IL-6 shifts naive CD4(+) cells to Th17 cells. To induce allergic airway inflammation, OVA-pulsed DCs from IL-6-deficient or wild-type donors were adoptively transferred into BALB/c mice. Recipients receiving IL-6-producing wild-type DCs showed a significant decrease of Th9- and IL-4-producing Th2 cells but an increase of Th17 cells in lung tissue in comparison with recipients sensitized with IL-6-deficient DCs. Our data suggest that the IL-6-mediated reduction of Th2-related IL-4 leads to a decline of the Th9 immune response and allows Th17 differentiation.

Prospective study of pregnancy and newborn outcomes in mothers with West nile illness during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: A previous case report of West Nile virus (WNV) illness during pregnancy suggested that WNV could be a cause of congenital defects. We performed a prospective, longitudinal cohort study of pregnant women with WNV illness to increase our knowledge of the effects of WNV illness during pregnancy. METHODS: Participants were enrolled in 2005 to 2008 from pregnant women with serologically confirmed WNV illness reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Comparison was made to WNV-uninfected women, matched on maternal age and enrollment month. Pregnancy and newborn data were collected; cord blood WNV serology was obtained. Pediatric exams and the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition (Bayley-III) were performed. RESULTS: Twenty-eight WNV-infected mothers and 25 WNV-uninfected mothers participated. Maternal demographics were similar except for a higher rate of planned pregnancies, education, and household income in the WNV-uninfected mothers. There were no differences in pregnancy and delivery characteristics except that infected mothers had a higher incidence of febrile illnesses and used more medications. Birth weight, length, head circumference, and rate of congenital malformations were similar in babies born to WNV-infected and -uninfected mothers. Follow-up physical exams were generally normal. The Bayley-III assessments, available for 17 children born to mothers with WNV illness, showed performance at or above age level across domains. CONCLUSION: The risk for adverse pregnancy and newborn outcomes in women experiencing WNV illness in pregnancy appears to be low, but future studies with larger numbers are needed to rule out a small risk. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 106:716-723, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Private well water in Colorado: collaboration, data use, and public health outreach.

As a result of participating in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Private Well Initiative and Environmental Public Health Tracking Network (Tracking), the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment was able to inventory private well water quality data, prioritize potential health concerns associated with drinking water from these wells, and create a Web portal for sharing public health information regarding private well water. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment collaborated with a local health department to pilot the project prior to a public implementation. Approximately 18 data sets were identified and inventoried. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment also participated in development and pilot testing of best practices for display of well water quality data with other Tracking states. Available data sets were compiled and summarized, and the data made available on the Colorado Tracking portal using geographic information system technology to support public health outreach regarding private wells.

Antibody-mediated rejection of arterialised venous allografts is inhibited by immunosuppression in rats.

OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN: We determined in a rat model (1) the presence and dynamics of alloantibodies recognizing MHC complexes on quiescent Brown-Norway (BN) splenic cells in the sera of Lewis (LEW) recipients of Brown-Norway iliolumbar vein grafts under tacrolimus immunosuppression; and (2) the presence of immunoglobulins in the wall of acute rejected vein allografts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Flow cytometry was used for the analysis of day 0, 14 and 30 sera obtained from Lewis recipients of isogeneic iliolumbar vein grafts (group A) or Brown-Norway grafts (group B, C) for the presence of donor specific anti-MHC class I and II antibodies. Tacrolimus 0.2 mg/kg daily was administered from day 1 to day 30 (group C). Histology was performed on day 30. RESULTS: Sera obtained preoperatively and on day 30 were compared in all groups. The statistically significant decrease of anti MHC class I and II antibody binding was observed only in allogenic non-immunosuppressed group B (splenocytes: MHC class I - day 0 (93% ± 7% ) vs day 30 (66% ± 7%), p = 0.02, MHC class II - day 0 (105% ± 3% ) vs day 30 (83% ± 5%), p = 0.003; B-cells: MHC class I - day 0 (83% ± 5%) vs day 30 (55% ± 6%), p = 0.003, MHC class II - day 0 (101% ± 1%) vs day 30 (79% ± 6%), p = 0.006; T-cells: MHC class I - day 0 (71% ± 7%) vs day 30 (49% ± 5%), p = 0.04). No free clusters of immunoglobulin G deposition were detected in any experimental group. CONCLUSION: Arterialized venous allografts induce strong donor-specific anti-MHC class I and anti-MHC class II antibody production with subsequent immune-mediated destruction of these allografts with no evidence of immunoglobulin G deposition. Low-dose tacrolimus suppress the donor-specific antibody production.

The actin-binding proteins eps8 and gelsolin have complementary roles in regulating the growth and stability of mechanosensory hair bundles of mammalian cochlear outer hair cells.

Sound transduction depends upon mechanosensitive channels localized on the hair-like bundles that project from the apical surface of cochlear hair cells. Hair bundles show a stair-case structure composed of rows of stereocilia, and each stereocilium contains a core of tightly-packed and uniformly-polarized actin filaments. The growth and maintenance of the stereociliary actin core are dynamically regulated. Recently, it was shown that the actin-binding protein gelsolin is expressed in the stereocilia of outer hair cells (OHCs) and in its absence they become long and straggly. Gelsolin is part of a whirlin scaffolding protein complex at the stereocilia tip, which has been shown to interact with other actin regulatory molecules such as Eps8. Here we investigated the physiological effects associated with the absence of gelsolin and its possible overlapping role with Eps8. We found that, in contrast to Eps8, gelsolin does not affect mechanoelectrical transduction during immature stages of development. Moreover, OHCs from gelsolin knockout mice were able to mature into fully functional sensory receptors as judged by the normal resting membrane potential and basolateral membrane currents. Mechanoelectrical transducer current in gelsolin-Eps8 double knockout mice showed a profile similar to that observed in the single mutants for Eps8. We propose that gelsolin has a non-overlapping role with Eps8. While Eps8 is mainly involved in the initial growth of stereocilia in both inner hair cells (IHCs) and OHCs, gelsolin is required for the maintenance of mature hair bundles of low-frequency OHCs after the onset of hearing.

HGF and SDF-1-mediated mobilization of CD133+ BMSC for hepatic regeneration following extensive liver resection.

BACKGROUND: The molecular mechanisms of haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) mobilization and homing to the liver after partial hepatectomy (PH) remain largely unexplored. METHODS: Functional liver volume loss and regain was determined by computerized tomography (CT) volumetry in 30 patients following PH. Peripheral HSC mobilization was investigated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analyses and cytokine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay assays. Migration of purified HSC towards hepatic growth factor (HGF) and stroma-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) gradients was tested in vitro. Mice after 70% PH were examined for HSC mobilization by FACS and cytokine mRNA expression in the liver. FACS-sorted HSC were administered after PH and hepatocyte proliferation was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining for Ki67. RESULTS: Impaired liver function was noted after extended hepatic resection when compared to smaller resections. Patients with large liver resections were characterized by significantly higher levels of peripheral HSC which were positively correlated with the extent of resected liver volume and its regain after 3 weeks. Increased plasma levels of HGF, SDF-1 and insulin like growth factor (IGF-1) were evident within the first 6 hours post resection. Migration assays of human HSC in vitro showed a specific target-demonstrated migration towards recombinant HGF and SDF-1 gradients in a concentration and specific receptor (c-Met and CXCR4) dependent manner. The evaluation of peripheral human alpha foetoprotein expression demonstrated pronounced stemness following increased CD133(+) HSC in the course of liver regeneration following PH. Our human data were further validated in a murine model of PH and furthermore demonstrated increased hepatocyte proliferation subsequent to CD133(+) HSC treatment. CONCLUSION: HGF and SDF-1 are required for effective HSC mobilization and homing to the liver after hepatic resection. These findings have significant implications for potential therapeutic strategies targeting chemotactant modulation and stem cell mobilization for liver protection and regeneration.

Presynaptic maturation in auditory hair cells requires a critical period of sensory-independent spiking activity.

The development of neural circuits relies on spontaneous electrical activity that occurs during immature stages of development. In the developing mammalian auditory system, spontaneous calcium action potentials are generated by inner hair cells (IHCs), which form the primary sensory synapse. It remains unknown whether this electrical activity is required for the functional maturation of the auditory system. We found that sensory-independent electrical activity controls synaptic maturation in IHCs. We used a mouse model in which the potassium channel SK2 is normally overexpressed, but can be modulated in vivo using doxycycline. SK2 overexpression affected the frequency and duration of spontaneous action potentials, which prevented the development of the Ca(2+)-sensitivity of vesicle fusion at IHC ribbon synapses, without affecting their morphology or general cell development. By manipulating the in vivo expression of SK2 channels, we identified the "critical period" during which spiking activity influences IHC synaptic maturation. Here we provide direct evidence that IHC development depends upon a specific temporal pattern of calcium spikes before sound-driven neuronal activity.

Otoferlin couples to clathrin-mediated endocytosis in mature cochlear inner hair cells.

The encoding of auditory information with indefatigable precision requires efficient resupply of vesicles at inner hair cell (IHC) ribbon synapses. Otoferlin, a transmembrane protein responsible for deafness in DFNB9 families, has been postulated to act as a calcium sensor for exocytosis as well as to be involved in rapid vesicle replenishment of IHCs. However, the molecular basis of vesicle recycling in IHCs is largely unknown. In the present study, we used high-resolution liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry to copurify otoferlin interaction partners in the mammalian cochlea. We identified multiple subunits of the adaptor protein complex AP-2 (CLAP), an essential component of clathrin-mediated endocytosis, as binding partners of otoferlin in rats and mice. The interaction between otoferlin and AP-2 was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation. We also found that AP-2 interacts with myosin VI, another otoferlin binding partner important for clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME). The expression of AP-2 in IHCs was verified by reverse transcription PCR. Confocal microscopy experiments revealed that the expression of AP-2 and its colocalization with otoferlin is confined to mature IHCs. When CME was inhibited by blocking dynamin action, real-time changes in membrane capacitance showed impaired synaptic vesicle replenishment in mature but not immature IHCs. We suggest that an otoferlin-AP-2 interaction drives Ca(2+)- and stimulus-dependent compensating CME in mature IHCs.

Development and function of the voltage-gated sodium current in immature mammalian cochlear inner hair cells.

Inner hair cells (IHCs), the primary sensory receptors of the mammalian cochlea, fire spontaneous Ca(2+) action potentials before the onset of hearing. Although this firing activity is mainly sustained by a depolarizing L-type (Ca(V)1.3) Ca(2+) current (I(Ca)), IHCs also transiently express a large Na(+) current (I(Na)). We aimed to investigate the specific contribution of I(Na) to the action potentials, the nature of the channels carrying the current and whether the biophysical properties of I(Na) differ between low- and high-frequency IHCs. We show that I(Na) is highly temperature-dependent and activates at around -60 mV, close to the action potential threshold. Its size was larger in apical than in basal IHCs and between 5% and 20% should be available at around the resting membrane potential (-55 mV/-60 mV). However, in vivo the availability of I(Na) could potentially increase to >60% during inhibitory postsynaptic potential activity, which transiently hyperpolarize IHCs down to as far as -70 mV. When IHCs were held at -60 mV and I(Na) elicited using a simulated action potential as a voltage command, we found that I(Na) contributed to the subthreshold depolarization and upstroke of an action potential. We also found that I(Na) is likely to be carried by the TTX-sensitive channel subunits Na(V)1.1 and Na(V)1.6 in both apical and basal IHCs. The results provide insight into how the biophysical properties of I(Na) in mammalian cochlear IHCs could contribute to the spontaneous physiological activity during cochlear maturation in vivo.

Restoration of auditory evoked responses by human ES-cell-derived otic progenitors.

Deafness is a condition with a high prevalence worldwide, produced primarily by the loss of the sensory hair cells and their associated spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). Of all the forms of deafness, auditory neuropathy is of particular concern. This condition, defined primarily by damage to the SGNs with relative preservation of the hair cells, is responsible for a substantial proportion of patients with hearing impairment. Although the loss of hair cells can be circumvented partially by a cochlear implant, no routine treatment is available for sensory neuron loss, as poor innervation limits the prospective performance of an implant. Using stem cells to recover the damaged sensory circuitry is a potential therapeutic strategy. Here we present a protocol to induce differentiation from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) using signals involved in the initial specification of the otic placode. We obtained two types of otic progenitors able to differentiate in vitro into hair-cell-like cells and auditory neurons that display expected electrophysiological properties. Moreover, when transplanted into an auditory neuropathy model, otic neuroprogenitors engraft, differentiate and significantly improve auditory-evoked response thresholds. These results should stimulate further research into the development of a cell-based therapy for deafness.

Lack of brain-derived neurotrophic factor hampers inner hair cell synapse physiology, but protects against noise-induced hearing loss.

The precision of sound information transmitted to the brain depends on the transfer characteristics of the inner hair cell (IHC) ribbon synapse and its multiple contacting auditory fibers. We found that brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) differentially influences IHC characteristics in the intact and injured cochlea. Using conditional knock-out mice (BDNF(Pax2) KO) we found that resting membrane potentials, membrane capacitance and resting linear leak conductance of adult BDNF(Pax2) KO IHCs showed a normal maturation. Likewise, in BDNF(Pax2) KO membrane capacitance (ΔC(m)) as a function of inward calcium current (I(Ca)) follows the linear relationship typical for normal adult IHCs. In contrast the maximal ΔC(m), but not the maximal size of the calcium current, was significantly reduced by 45% in basal but not in apical cochlear turns in BDNF(Pax2) KO IHCs. Maximal ΔC(m) correlated with a loss of IHC ribbons in these cochlear turns and a reduced activity of the auditory nerve (auditory brainstem response wave I). Remarkably, a noise-induced loss of IHC ribbons, followed by reduced activity of the auditory nerve and reduced centrally generated wave II and III observed in control mice, was prevented in equally noise-exposed BDNF(Pax2) KO mice. Data suggest that BDNF expressed in the cochlea is essential for maintenance of adult IHC transmitter release sites and that BDNF upholds opposing afferents in high-frequency turns and scales them down following noise exposure.

Auditory function in the Tc1 mouse model of down syndrome suggests a limited region of human chromosome 21 involved in otitis media.

Down syndrome is one of the most common congenital disorders leading to a wide range of health problems in humans, including frequent otitis media. The Tc1 mouse carries a significant part of human chromosome 21 (Hsa21) in addition to the full set of mouse chromosomes and shares many phenotypes observed in humans affected by Down syndrome with trisomy of chromosome 21. However, it is unknown whether Tc1 mice exhibit a hearing phenotype and might thus represent a good model for understanding the hearing loss that is common in Down syndrome. In this study we carried out a structural and functional assessment of hearing in Tc1 mice. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurements in Tc1 mice showed normal thresholds compared to littermate controls and ABR waveform latencies and amplitudes were equivalent to controls. The gross anatomy of the middle and inner ears was also similar between Tc1 and control mice. The physiological properties of cochlear sensory receptors (inner and outer hair cells: IHCs and OHCs) were investigated using single-cell patch clamp recordings from the acutely dissected cochleae. Adult Tc1 IHCs exhibited normal resting membrane potentials and expressed all K(+) currents characteristic of control hair cells. However, the size of the large conductance (BK) Ca(2+) activated K(+) current (I(K,f)), which enables rapid voltage responses essential for accurate sound encoding, was increased in Tc1 IHCs. All physiological properties investigated in OHCs were indistinguishable between the two genotypes. The normal functional hearing and the gross structural anatomy of the middle and inner ears in the Tc1 mouse contrast to that observed in the Ts65Dn model of Down syndrome which shows otitis media. Genes that are trisomic in Ts65Dn but disomic in Tc1 may predispose to otitis media when an additional copy is active.

cGMP-Prkg1 signaling and Pde5 inhibition shelter cochlear hair cells and hearing function.

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a global health hazard with considerable pathophysiological and social consequences that has no effective treatment. In the heart, lung and other organs, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) facilitates protective processes in response to traumatic events. We therefore analyzed NIHL in mice with a genetic deletion of the gene encoding cGMP-dependent protein kinase type I (Prkg1) and found a greater vulnerability to and markedly less recovery from NIHL in these mice as compared to mice without the deletion. Prkg1 was expressed in the sensory cells and neurons of the inner ear of wild-type mice, and its expression partly overlapped with the expression profile of cGMP-hydrolyzing phosphodiesterase 5 (Pde5). Treatment of rats and wild-type mice with the Pde5 inhibitor vardenafil almost completely prevented NIHL and caused a Prkg1-dependent upregulation of poly (ADP-ribose) in hair cells and the spiral ganglion, suggesting an endogenous protective cGMP-Prkg1 signaling pathway that culminates in the activation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. These data suggest vardenafil or related drugs as possible candidates for the treatment of NIHL.