Identification of evidence for autoimmune pathology of bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss using proteomic analysis

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (S-SNHL) is an inner ear disorder with an abrupt hearing loss occurring < 3 days. The pathologic mechanism of the disease remains unclear, although autoimmunity has been regarded as one of the suggested causes, especially in bilateral form. In this study, we aimed to provide evidence for the involvement of autoimmunity in bilateral S-SNHL using proteomic approaches such as ProtoArray®, western blotting, immunoprecipitation, and liquid column mass spectrometry for mass screening of candidate antigens and autoantibodies based on the hypothesis that multiple autoantibodies and target antigens must exist in order for autoimmune bilateral S-SNHL to develop. As the final outcome, we have proven the involvement of autoimmunity in the disease, and investigated the existence of circulating autoantibodies and candidate antigens. These findings could provide basic evidence necessary for the development of diagnostic biomarkers as well as the understanding of the pathological mechanisms underlying bilateral S-SNHL. S-SNHL: sudden sensorineural hearing loss; LC-MS: liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry; MS: mass spectrometry; autoAb: autoantibody; 1-DE: one-dimensional electrophoresis.