AUTHOR=Erni Silvia T. , Fernandes Gabriella , Buri Michelle , Perny Michael , Rutten Rolf Jan , van Noort Johannes M. , Senn Pascal , Grandgirard Denis , Roccio Marta , Leib Stephen L. TITLE=Anti-inflammatory and Oto-Protective Effect of the Small Heat Shock Protein Alpha B-Crystallin (HspB5) in Experimental Pneumococcal Meningitis JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology VOLUME=10 YEAR=2019 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2019.00570 DOI=10.3389/fneur.2019.00570 ISSN=1664-2295 ABSTRACT=
Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common long-term deficit after pneumococcal meningitis (PM), occurring in up to 30% of surviving patients. The infection and the following overshooting inflammatory host response damage the vulnerable sensory cells of the inner ear, resulting in loss of hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons, ultimately leading to elevated hearing thresholds. Here, we tested the oto-protective properties of the small heat shock protein alpha B-crystallin (HspB5) with previously reported anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective functions, in an experimental model of PM-induced hearing loss. We analyzed the effect of local and systemic delivery of HspB5 in an infant rat model of PM, as well as