In-depth proteome analysis of ubiquitous proteins in human perilymph samples

Introduction The molecular and cellular structures into the inner ear are highly sensitive to toxic substances and damaging processes caused by inflammation, disease-specific molecular changes, and aging for instance. Pathological conditions in the cochlea induced by these processes lead to sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), but the molecular pathophysiology is not yet elucidated in detail at all. In our previous studies proteome analysis showed disease-specific differences in the level and occurrence of perilymph proteins [1]. In this study the main focus is on the different level of proteins in perilymph of patients with different etiology of SNHL and different age.

Methods Perilymph samples of patients with SNHL undergoing cochlear implantation or vestibular schwannoma surgeries were analyzed by mass spectrometry coupled with liquid chromatography (LC-MS) by a shot-gun proteomics approach and Max Quant software was used for protein identification.

Results In the perilymph samples of almost 100 patients suffering from different diseases leading to SNHL or with unknown reason for SNHL were identified more than 1000 proteins and the ubiquitous proteins (proteins identified in every perilymph sample) were filtered out. Patients were grouped on the one hand by diseases and on the other hand by age. Ubiquitous perilymph proteins with a clearly de- or increased level among the different patient groups could be identified.

Conclusion This in-depth proteome analysis of human perilymph opens a window for understanding the role of specific and ubiquitous proteins in the molecular mechanisms and pathology of the inner ear. [1] Schmitt et al. ACS Omega 2021, 6, 21241−21254

This work was supported by the DFG Cluster of Excellence EXC 2177/1 "Hearing4all".

Publication History

Article published online:
12 May 2023