Serum lipid metabolism characteristics and potential biomarkers in patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Xiaoyan Chen; Zhong Zheng; Daoyu Xie; Liang Xia; Yi Chen; Hongjun Dong; Yanmei Feng

doi:10.1186/s12944-024-02189-8

Lipids in Health and Disease (Jun 2024)

Serum lipid metabolism characteristics and potential biomarkers in patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Xiaoyan Chen,
Zhong Zheng,
Daoyu Xie,
Liang Xia,
Yi Chen,
Hongjun Dong,
Yanmei Feng

Affiliations

Xiaoyan Chen: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital
Zhong Zheng: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital
Daoyu Xie: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University
Liang Xia: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital
Yi Chen: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital
Hongjun Dong: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital, Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine
Yanmei Feng: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12944-024-02189-8
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 23, no. 1
pp. 1 – 12

Abstract

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Abstract Background Glycerophospholipids (GPLs) are essential for cell membrane structure and function. Sphingomyelin and its metabolites regulate cell growth, apoptosis, and stress responses. This study aimed to investigate lipid metabolism in patients experiencing sudden sensorineural hearing loss across all frequencies (AF-SSNHL). Methods The study included 60 patients diagnosed with unilateral AF-SSNHL, among whom 30 patients had a level of hearing improvement ≥ 15 dB after 6 months of follow-up. A propensity score-matched (2:1) control group was used. Liquid chromatography‒mass spectrometry based untargeted lipidomics analysis combined with multivariate statistics was performed to investigate the lipids change. The “lipidome” R package and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were utilised to assess the lipids’ structural features and the association between lipids and hearing. Results Lipidomics successfully differentiated the AF-SSNHL group from the control group, identifying 17 risk factors, mainly including phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and related metabolites. The ratios of lysophosphatidylcholine/PC, lysophosphatidylethanolamine/PE, and lysodimethylphosphatidylethanolamine/PE were upregulated, while some glycerophospholipid (GPL)-plasmalogens were downregulated in the AF-SSNHL group, indicating abnormal metabolism of GPLs. Trihexosylceramide (d34:1), PE (18:1e_22:5), and sphingomyelin (d40:3) were significantly different between responders and nonresponders, and positively correlated with hearing improvement. Additionally, the results of the WGCNA also suggested that partial GPL-plasmalogens were positively associated with hearing improvement. Conclusion AF-SSNHL patients exhibited abnormally high blood lipids and pronounced GPLs metabolic abnormalities. Sphingolipids and GPL-plasmalogens had an association with the level of hearing improvement. By understanding the lipid changes, clinicians may be able to predict the prognosis of hearing recovery and personalize treatment approaches.

Published in Lipids in Health and Disease

ISSN: 1476-511X (Online)
Publisher: BMC
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases
Website: https://lipidworld.biomedcentral.com/

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