Toll-like Receptor 4 Signaling and Downstream Neutrophilic Inflammation Mediate Endotoxemia-Enhanced Blood-Labyrinth Barrier Trafficking

Zachary D. Urdang, Jessica L. Bills, David Y. Cahana, Leslie L. Muldoon, Edward A. Neuwelt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hypothesis:Both toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and downstream neutrophil activity are required for endotoxemia-enhanced blood-labyrinth barrier (BLB) trafficking.Background:Aminoglycoside and cisplatin are valuable clinical therapies; however, these drugs often cause life-long hearing loss. Endotoxemia enhances the ototoxicity of aminoglycosides and cisplatin in a TLR4 dependent mechanism for which downstream proinflammatory signaling orchestrates effector immune cells including neutrophils. Neutrophil-mediated vascular injury (NMVI) can enhance molecular trafficking across endothelial barriers and may contribute to endotoxemia-enhanced drug-induced ototoxicity.Methods:Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) hypo-responsive TLR4-KO mice and congenitally neutropenic granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) GCSF-KO mice were studied to investigate the relative contributions of TLR4 signaling and downstream neutrophil activity to endotoxemia-enhanced BLB trafficking. C57Bl/6 wild-type mice were used as a positive control. Mice were treated with LPS and 24hours later cochleae were analyzed for gene transcription of innate inflammatory cytokine/chemokine signaling molecules, neutrophil recruitment, and vascular trafficking of the paracellular tracer biocytin-TMR.Results:Cochlear transcription of innate proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines was increased in endotoxemic C57Bl/6 and GCSF-KO, but not in TLR4-KO mice. More neutrophils were recruited to endotoxemic C57Bl/6 cochleae compared with both TLR4 and GCSF-KO cochleae. Endotoxemia enhanced BLB trafficking of biocytin-TMR in endotoxemic C57Bl/6 cochleae and this was attenuated in both TLR4 and GCSF-KO mice.Conclusion:Together these results suggest that TLR4-mediated innate immunity cytokine/chemokine signaling alone is not sufficient for endotoxemia-enhanced trafficking of biocytin-TMR and that downstream neutrophil activity is required to enhance BLB trafficking. Clinically, targeting neutrophilic inflammation could protect hearing during aminoglycoside, cisplatin, or other ototoxic drug therapies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)123-132
Number of pages10
JournalOtology and Neurotology
Volume41
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2020

Keywords

  • Aminoglycoside
  • Blood-labyrinth barrier
  • Cisplatin
  • Innate inflammation
  • Neutrophil
  • Ototoxicity
  • Reactive oxygen species
  • Sepsis
  • Systemic inflammatory response syndrome

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Sensory Systems
  • Clinical Neurology

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