Identification of vestibular organ-associated mRNA changes by acceleration stimulation in mice

Abstract

The vestibular organs of the inner ear play a critical role in maintaining body balance by detecting linear and angular acceleration and transmitting these signals to the central nervous system. However, there have been few attempts in inner ear research to investigate the state of the vestibular system in response to acceleration stimuli using RNA sequencing. In this study, we applied a 4G hypergravity stimulus to a mouse model under three different conditions: 48 hours, 2 weeks, and 2 weeks followed by a 1-week recovery period, and analyzed gene expression changes in the vestibular organs through RNA sequencing. As a result, approximately 4,200 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and classified into three expression patterns. The 48-hour group showed gene expression patterns largely similar to the control group, whereas the 2-week group exhibited significant transcriptional changes. Notably, some of these changes persisted even after the 1-week recovery period. Gene ontology analysis revealed that genes associated with calcium signaling and synaptic transmission were downregulated after long-term hypergravity exposure, while genes related to inflammatory responses, such as interferon-beta signaling, were upregulated. These findings suggest the presence of a persistent inflammatory response in the vestibular system. In conclusion, the results indicate that 2-week hypergravity stimulation induces transcriptomic alterations in signal transmission and immune pathways within the vestibular system. This study may contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms of vestibular dysfunction and offer insights into potential therapeutic approaches.