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Cochlear Inflammation Associated with Noise-Exposure

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Inflammatory Mechanisms in Mediating Hearing Loss

Abstract

While we know a great deal about the anatomical and physiological changes that occur within the cochlea as a result of noise exposure of various spectra, intensities and durations, we know relatively little about the inflammatory response to these noises. Some cochlear cells up-regulate their expression of inflammatory mediators in response to noise and presumably thereby, recruit circulating macrophages into the cochlea or activate resident cells. The mechanisms that mediate these process are not yet known. The value of the inflammatory response in terms of cochlear repair is not known. Investigators have described immune responses within the stria vascularis, the spiral ligament, the mesothelial cells below the basilar membrane and the epithelial cells of the organ of Corti. The cooperation and/or interactions among these various cells are not known. This chapter is an attempt to identify what is known of the inflammatory response and stimulate new research to clarify the response and its function.

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Acknowledgements

I thank Allen F. Ryan, Ph.D. for reviewing and providing meaningful discussions concerning this manuscript, Jeffery P. Harris, M.D., Ph.D. for introducing me to immunity in the inner ear, and Gary S. Firestein, M.D. and Joe C. Adams, Ph.D. for their many years of collaboration and contributions towards gaining an understanding of inflammatory mechanisms in the inner ear. This work was supported in part by VA Merit grant BX001205 and NIH/NIDCD grant DC012595.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Elizabeth M. Keithley

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  1. Elizabeth M. Keithley
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Correspondence to Elizabeth M. Keithley .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Springfield, Illinois, USA

    Vickram Ramkumar

  2. Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Springfield, Illinois, USA

    Leonard P. Rybak

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Keithley, E.M. (2018). Cochlear Inflammation Associated with Noise-Exposure. In: Ramkumar, V., Rybak, L. (eds) Inflammatory Mechanisms in Mediating Hearing Loss. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92507-3_5

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