Exogenous IL-4-Expressing Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Autoimmune Sensorineural Hearing Loss in a Guinea Pig Model

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) expressing recombinant IL-4 have the potential to remediate inflammatory diseases. We thus investigated whether BMSCs expressing exogenous IL-4 could alleviate autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss. BMSCs isolated from guinea pigs were transfected with recombinant lentivirus expressing IL-4. A total of 33 animals were divided into three groups. Group A received scala tympani injection of IL-4-expressing BMSCs, and Group B received control vector-expressing BMSCs, and Group C received phosphate-buffered saline. The distribution of implanted BMSCs in the inner ears was assessed by immunohistochemistry and fluorescence microscopy. Auditory brain-stem response (ABR) was monitored to evaluate the auditory changes. Following BMSCs transplantation, the threshold levels of ABR wave III decreased in Groups A and B and significant differences were observed between these two groups (P < 0.05). Transplanted BMSCs distributed in the scala tympani and scala vestibuli. In some ears with hearing loss, there was a decrease in the number of spiral ganglion cells and varying degrees of endolymphatic hydrops or floccule. Following transplantation, the lentivirus-infected BMSCs migrated to the inner ear and produced IL-4. Our results demonstrate that, upon transplantation, BMSCs and BMSCs expressing recombinant IL-4 have the ability to remediate the inflammatory injury in autoimmune inner ear diseases.