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Expression of G9a in Auditory Cortex Is Downregulated in a Rat Model of Age-Related Hearing Loss

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Abstract

G9a is essential for dendritic plasticity and is associated with neurological disorders. The possible relationship between age-related hearing loss and G9a expression in the auditory cortex has not been fully explored. This study aimed to understand the expression patterns of G9a-mediated histone methylations in the auditory cortex during aging. Using immunofluorescence and western blotting, we demonstrated that a significant reduction in G9a expression observed in the auditory cortex of 24-month-old rats compared to 3-month-old rats, was associated with remarkable hearing threshold elevation and hair cell loss. Correspondingly, histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) mono- and dimethylation (marked by H3K9me1 and H3K9me2, respectively), which were regulated by G9a activity, also evidently decreased during aging. These findings, which merit further investigation, suggest a possible association between G9a-mediated histone methylations and central age-related hearing disorders.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by grants from Chongqing Natural Science Foundation (Grant Serial Numbers: cstc2018jcyjAX0229).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China

    Qian Li, Yang-hong Xiang, Xiao-jun Liang, Yun Zhang, Peng-peng Zhao, Min Wang, Xiao-min Bao, Xian-bai Zhu & An-chun Deng

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  1. Qian Li
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  2. Yang-hong Xiang
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  3. Xiao-jun Liang
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  4. Yun Zhang
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  5. Peng-peng Zhao
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  6. Min Wang
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  7. Xiao-min Bao
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  8. Xian-bai Zhu
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  9. An-chun Deng
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Contributions

An-chun Deng designed and supervised the study. Qian Li wrote the manuscript and produced figures. Yang-hong Xiang, Xiao-jun Liang, Yun Zhang, Peng-peng Zhao, Min Wang, Xiao-min Bao and Xian-bai Zhu collected and analyzed data.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to An-chun Deng.

Ethics declarations

All animal experiments were performed according to the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals 8th Edition. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Army Medical University (Chongqing, China).

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Li, Q., Xiang, Yh., Liang, Xj. et al. Expression of G9a in Auditory Cortex Is Downregulated in a Rat Model of Age-Related Hearing Loss. J Mol Neurosci 71, 409–418 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-020-01663-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-020-01663-z

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