Autophagy-Related Protein 12 Associates With Anti-Apoptotic B Cell Lymphoma-2 to Promote Apoptosis in Gentamicin-Induced Inner Ear Hair Cell Loss

The study from April 11, 2017, investigated the role of autophagy in gentamicin (GM)-induced ototoxicity and the potential protective effect of blocking autophagy on inner ear hair cell survival. Cochleae from four-day-old C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups: a control group, a GM-treated group, and a GM plus 3-methyladenine (3-MA) group, with the latter being used to inhibit autophagy. The results showed that GM treatment induced apoptosis and autophagy in cochlear hair cells, as evidenced by the formation of autophagic vesicles and autophagosomes. Importantly, the addition of 3-MA increased the survival of these hair cells. The study also found that Atg12, an autophagy-related protein, interacted with the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 following GM treatment, suggesting a co-integration of autophagy and apoptosis in the cochlea. The findings suggest that Atg12 may have a protective role and could be a potential therapeutic target for preventing GM-induced cochlear hair cell loss.