ASPECTS OF INNER EAR IMMUNOLOGY

来年的目标将是进一步确定 观察内耳对抗原攻击的体液免疫反应 大鼠外淋巴液中免疫球蛋白水平的测定 免疫球蛋白类别(IgM、IgG、IgA)。我们将评估亲属 内耳抗原激发刺激外周血的效果 血液T细胞与系统给予的抗原挑战相比， 从鞘内进入中耳。这将需要使用 我们现在已经很好地表征的豚鼠T细胞转化实验 用于有丝分裂原和KLH。此外，我们将利用我们拥有的试点数据 关于建立抗耳蜗性自身免疫动物模型的研究 进一步描述这种自身抗体对内耳的影响。我们 将评估所有用牛耳蜗抗原免疫的动物的 酶联免疫吸附试验检测抗耳蜗抗体效价、T细胞反应性 用造血法检测耳蜗抗原及CM&M对听力的影响 AP阈值测定。关于疫苗免疫反应的初步数据 内耳的病毒感染表明内耳免疫 保护耳蜗免受听力损失和 病毒。我们将进一步描述这种免疫反应的动力学。 以及产生的免疫球蛋白类。 这些研究将对内耳有更好的了解。 免疫反应性及其对耳蜗功能的影响。

The objectives for the coming year will be to further characterize the observed inner ear humoral immune response to antigen challenge by quantifying the immunoglobulin levels within the perilymph for the major immunoglobulin classes (IgM, IgG, IgA). We will assess the relative effectiveness of inner ear antigen challenge in stimulating peripheral blood T cells compared to antigen challenges given systemically, intrathecally and into the middle ear. This will require the use of a guinea pig T cell blastogenesis assay which we have now well-characterized for mitogens and KLH. Additionally we will utilize pilot data we have generated on the creation of animal model of anticochlear autoimmunity to further characterize the effects of this autoantibody on the inner ear. We will assess all animals immunized with bovine cochlear antigen for their developing titer of anti-cochlear antibody by ELISA, T cell responsiveness to cochlear antigen by blastogenesis assay and effects on hearing by CM & AP threshold determinations. Preliminary data on the immune response to viral infections of the inner ear has shown that inner ear immunity protects the cochlear from hearing loss and the inflammatory effects of the virus. We will further characterize the kinetics of this immune response and immunoglobulin classes which are generated. These studies will provide a better understanding of inner ear immunoresponsiveness and the effects of this response on cochlear function.