Exploring biomarkers for noise-induced hearing loss through mitochondrial DNA methylation analysis

作者：Dianpeng Wang, Caiping Li, Lifang Shi, Dafeng Lin, Shaofan Weng, Xiangli Yang, Peimao Li, Zhimin Zhang, Wen Zhang, Yan Guo, Guangtao Yang, Zhenlie Huang, N Zhang · 发表于：Frontiers in Pharmacology · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.3389/fphar.2025.1561791 · 被引用次数：3 · 研究领域：Hearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, Genetics、Noise Effects and Management、Epigenetics and DNA Methylation

Objective: Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), resulting from occupational noise exposure, is a significant health concern with considerable economic and social implications. It is the most commonly reported occupational disease in developing countries. Noise causes cochlear cell damage by inducing mitochondrial oxidative stress elevating reactive oxygen species (ROS), ultimately leading to cell apoptosis. This study explores the impact of noise-induced oxidative stress on mitochondrial DNA methylation and aims to identify potential molecular biomarkers for NIHL. Methods: This study included 40 cases of NIHL and 40 controls. Mitochondrial genome-wide methylation sequencing was performed using a targeted region approach with bisulfite multiplex PCR capture technology and high-depth next-generation sequencing (NGS). Results: The analysis revealed significant differences in methylation levels at 53 sites within mitochondrial genes, including 12S_rRNA, 16S_rRNA, tRNA-Ile, ND2, tRNA-Trp, CO1, CO2, ATP6, and CYB, with lower methylation levels observed in the case group compared to controls. In contrast, methylation levels at 31 sites, including 12S_rRNA, tRNA-Val, 16S_rRNA, CO1, CO3, ND3, tRNA-Arg, ND4, and ND5, were significantly higher in the case group. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the CYB gene had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.807, with high sensitivity (0.90) and reasonable specificity (0.70). Conclusion: This study demonstrates a redu...