Expression of 16.2kDa protein in elderly population: A quest for the detection of age related hearing impairment

Introduction: Age related hearing impairment (ARHI) is the most common sensory deficit in the elderly population and has become a severe social health problem. Several mechanisms have been described for hearing impairment in elderly people. Probable cause of hearing impairment may result from damage in the inner and outer hair cell, loss of stria vascularis, thickening of basilar membrane, or loss of sensory elements in the basal end of the cochlea. The aim of present study is to identify the protein biomarkers associated with ARHI using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Materials and Methods: Total 96 study subjects (48 experimental and 48 controls) were selected for this study. Serum samples were used for biochemical analysis and one-dimensional electrophoresis. Statistical analysis was done by GraphPad software. Results: Glucose, serum creatinine, and urea levels were in normal range and mean urea and creatinine levels are insignificantly associated with ARHI while mean glucose level is significantly associated with ARHI. Smoking/alcohol consumption did not show any significant association with ARHI. The molecular weight of the differentially expressed protein was 16.2 kDa as calculated by gel image analyzer software. The differentially expressed protein may be cochlin tomoprotein (CTP) of 16 kDa which is an isomer of cochlin protein. CTP contains all the known mutation sites associated with deafness. Conclusion: The expression of differentially expressed protein was consistently observed among experimental subjects as compared to control. This protein may help in the prediagnosis of ARHI due to added advantage of enhanced expression in subjects of ARHI. Results revealed males were more prone to ARHI than female.