Prestin and otolin-1 proteins in the hearing loss of adults chronically exposed to lead.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Some studies in animal models and humans suggest that exposure to lead is associated with hearing loss. Lead can reach the inner ear through the blood circulation; evidence suggests that lead could accumulate in the inner ear, causing inner ear damage.

AIM:

To evaluate prestin and otolin-1 protein levels and their relationship with an increased hearing threshold in participants exposed to lead.

METHODS:

We conducted a cross-sectional study with 315 participants from Tlaxcala, Mexico. Blood lead levels (BPb) were evaluated by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Serum prestin and otolin-1 were quantified using ELISA. Auditory function at frequencies of 0.125 to 8 kHz was evaluated in a soundproof chamber.

RESULTS:

Participants were classified according to BPb: group I (<10 μg/dL) had a median BPb of 6 μg/dL and prestin levels of 11.06 ng/mL. While participants in group II (≥10 μg/dL) had a median of BPb 20.7 μg/dL (p < 0.05) and prestin levels of 0.15 ng/mL (p < 0.001). Participants in both groups showed a normal hearing. Otolin-1 levels were higher for participants with normal hearing and lower for participants with hearing loss in both groups, p > 0.05. Multiple linear regression models predict an average decrease of 0.17 to 0.26 ng/mL in prestin levels per decibel increase for the frequencies evaluated.

CONCLUSIONS:

Participants with high BPb showed an increase in hearing threshold, and prestin levels decreased proportionally to the hearing threshold increase. This is the first study to evaluate prestin as a potential biomarker for hearing damage, evaluated by audiometry, in participants with lead exposure.

• Authors: Soledad Solis-Angeles, Cuauhtémoc A Juárez-Pérez, Carmina Jiménez-Ramírez, Alejandro Cabello-López, Guadalupe Aguilar-Madrid, Luz M Del Razo
• Journal: Toxicology and applied pharmacology (Toxicol Appl Pharmacol) Vol. 426 Pg. 115651 (09 01 2021) ISSN: 1096-0333 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 34273409 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Environmental Pollutants
• Extracellular Matrix Proteins
• SLC26A5 protein, human
• Sulfate Transporters
• otolin-1
• Lead

Topics

• Adult
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Environmental Exposure (adverse effects)
• Environmental Pollutants (blood, toxicity)
• Extracellular Matrix Proteins (blood)
• Female
• Hearing Loss (blood, chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Humans
• Lead (blood, toxicity)
• Male
• Mexico (epidemiology)
• Middle Aged
• Sulfate Transporters (blood)