{"id":2666,"date":"2025-09-17T15:06:45","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T05:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webdev.sydney.edu.au\/kolling\/research-group\/menieres-disease-neuroscience-group\/"},"modified":"2026-03-26T07:29:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T20:29:30","slug":"menieres-disease-neuroscience-group","status":"publish","type":"research-group","link":"https:\/\/kollinginstitute.org.au\/news_demo\/research-group\/menieres-disease-neuroscience-group\/","title":{"rendered":"Meniere\u2019s Disease Neuroscience Group"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Meniere\u2019s disease<\/strong> is a set of rare disorders of the inner ear defined by sensorineural hearing loss, episodic vertigo and roaring tinnitus. It is a debilitating condition of unknown etiology, where a personalised medicine approach is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most Meniere\u2019s disease patients are considered sporadic, and 20 per cent of patients show an abnormal immune response with persistent levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL1\u00df, TNFa, IL-6), leading to a systemic chronic inflammation. The trigger of this pro-inflammatory reaction is not known and it has been related with allergy, viral or bacterial infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other subgroups of Meniere\u2019s disease patients have migraine or an autoimmune disorder, including autoimmune thyroid disease or rheumatoid arthritis which require a multi-disciplinary approach to control the symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Familial Meniere\u2019s disease<\/strong> is around 8-9 per cent in European descendent population and it may show autosomal dominant of recessive inheritance. By exome sequencing, we have identified rare variants in several genes including OTOG, MYO7A, TECTA in familial Meniere\u2019s disease. These findings support the hypothesis that the interaction between hair cells stereocilia and the tectorial membrane in the organ of Corti or the otolithic membrane in the saccule play a central role in the pathogenesis of the disease. We plan to perform functional validation studies of these variants in cellular and animal models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chronic tinnitus<\/strong> is a common condition in Meniere\u2019s disease patients and severe tinnitus is found in 1 per cent of the population. Tinnitus is considered a disorder when the condition is associated with sensorineural hearing loss, hyperacusis, anxiety and depression.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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