Otolin-1 levels as possible signs of inner ear damage

Objective The expression of Otolin-1 is highly restricted to the inner ear. In particular, it is identified in the supporting cells of the maculae and cristae and also as a component of the tectorial membrane. A previous study showed that Otolin-1 is present in a significantly higher level in serum samples of patients with benign positional vertigo. Therefore we analyze the levels of the protein Otolin-1 in blood, urine or saliva in patients suffering from Menière’s Disease (characterized by the rupture of the membranous labyrinth), sudden hearing loss (HS), and neuritis vestibularis (NV) in comparison to healthy subjects.

Material and Methods Patients suffering from Ménière's Disease according to the AAO-HNS criteria, patient with HS and NV were included in the present study. The control group consists patients without any otoneurological disease. Urine and saliva was analyzed only in the first 10 Ménière's disease patients. Detection of Otolin-1 concentration was performed by the use of a highly sensitive ELISA-kit for human Otolin-1.

Results Serum samples of patients suffering from HS and Menière’s Disease showed significantly higher Otolin-1 values than control samples. There was no significant difference in the saliva or urine concentrations of Otolin-1 between patients of the Ménière's Disease and of the control group and no significant difference in serum samples of the patients with NV compared to controls.

Conclusion Our results indicate that Otolin-1 is present in serum and also in saliva, but rarely in urine of patients. The highly significant difference in serum samples of the Menière’s Disease and also HS patients compared to healthy controls seems indicative for a biomarker function of Otolin-1 in the pathologies affecting the inner ear.

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Publication History

Article published online:
10 June 2020