Melatonin Alleviates Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation/Reperfusion-Induced Pyroptosis of HEI-OC1 Cells and Cochlear Hair Cells via MT-1,2/Nrf2/ROS/NLRP3 Pathway
November 2022
in “
Molecular Neurobiology
”
TLDR Melatonin may protect inner ear cells from damage by reducing cell death and oxidative stress, potentially treating sudden hearing loss.
The study examined the impact of melatonin on oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) in HEI-OC1 cells and cochlear hair cells, which simulate cochlear ischemia-reperfusion injury. Results indicated that melatonin protected these cells from OGD/R-induced cell pyroptosis and decreased ROS expression levels. However, these effects were nullified by luzindole, a non-selective melatonin receptor blocker, and largely counteracted by ML385, an Nrf2 inhibitor. The study concludes that melatonin mitigates OGD/R-induced pyroptosis in hair cells through the MT-1, MT-2/Nrf2/ROS/NLRP3 pathway, suggesting melatonin could be a potential treatment for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.