Lipopolysaccharide disrupts the cochlear blood-labyrinth barrier by activating perivascular resident macrophages and up-regulating MMP-9

• Published in: International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology 2019-12, Vol.127, p.109656-109656, Article 109656
• Main Authors: Jiang, Ying, Zhang, Jie, Rao, Yufang, Chen, Junhong, Chen, Kai, Tang, Yuedi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Blood-labyrinth barrier; Capillaries - pathology; Cochlea - blood supply; Disease Models, Animal; Down-Regulation; Endothelial Cells - ultrastructure; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem - drug effects; Hearing Loss - chemically induced; Hearing Loss - metabolism; IL-33/ST2 axis; Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein - genetics; Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein - metabolism; Lipopolysaccharides; Macrophages - pathology; Macrophages - ultrastructure; Male; Matrix metallopeptidase 9; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - genetics; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Pericytes - ultrastructure; Perivascular resident macrophages; Stria Vascularis - metabolism; Stria Vascularis - pathology; Stria Vascularis - ultrastructure; Tight junction proteins; Tight Junctions - ultrastructure; Up-Regulation; Vestibule, Labyrinth; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein - genetics; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein - metabolism
• ISSN: 0165-5876; 1872-8464
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2019.109656

To determine the distribution of perivascularresident macrophages (PVMs) in BLB and their relationship with capillaries, and to explore the possible mechanisms responsible for lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of PVMs and the breakdown of BLB. Adult Balb/c mice were either trans-tympanically injected with LPS, or mock-treated. Auditory brainstem response was tested before and 48 h after treatments. Distribution of pericytes, PVMs and capillaries was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining, and BLB permeability was estimated by FITC-dextran leakage assay. Ultrastructure of stria vascularis was examined by transmission electron microscope. Protein and mRNA level of matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9), zona occludens-1 (ZO-1), interleukin-33 (IL-33) and its receptor suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) was measured by IHC and qRT-PCR. Unlike pericytes that surround one capillary, PVMs branched to connect with more than one capillary. LPS caused hearing loss in mice. Following LPS challenge, cochleae showed vascular leakage in stria vascularis, and PVMs presented morphological changes including reduced contact with capillaries. TEM revealed a reduced number of tight junction contact points between endothelial cells and a wider space between PVMs, pericytes and endothelial cells. The mRNA and protein levels of MMP-9 and ST2 in stria vascularis were up-regulated, while ZO-1 were down-regulated after exposure to LPS. Our results suggest that PVMs may play a more significant role than pericytes in maintaining the integrity of BLB. Our findings also reveal a possible mechanism contributing to LPS-induced activation of PVMs, breakdown of BLB and hearing loss.