Speaker: Edgar Sanchez
Candidate for Bachelor of Science in Biology
Time: 5:05 PM
Place: Trustee Hall 117
Supervisor: Dr. Fidelma O’Leary
Title: Labyrinthytis, an Autoimmune Disease?

Abstract: The causes of Labyrinthitis, an inner ear infection known to cause dizziness and vertigo attacks, are unknown. Labyrinthitis can be classified differently depending in the area of infection or the kind of infection, but the symptoms are generally the same. Dizziness, vertigo, and partial or total hearing loss caused by the damage to the inner ear are presumably caused by a bacterium or a virus. Adding to the bacteria and the many different viruses that can lead to this disease, the immune system may contribute to the onset of the disease. The immune system self-tolerance can break down and attack its own cells leading to autoimmune labyrinthitis. During an experimental procedure with mice, an inner ear antigen (IEA) was introduced to the subjects. T-lymphocytes were observed in the entire inner ear structure after the infection set. These inflammatory cells concentrated in the endolymphatic sac (ES) composed of the scala tympani and the scala vestibuli. The research study demonstrates strong correlation between physical damage to the spiral ganglion and hydrop formation, which were noticed from day 7 to day 21, and inflammatory cell infiltration, which started on day 7 with an increasing trend until day 21. This correlation not only suggests that the immune response has the potential to start self-cell damage and lead to autoimmune labyrinthitis, but that it can sustain the damage for prolonged periods. Furthermore, while the inflammatory cells were clearly present in the inner ear structure, these were not present in any other area in the subjects. This suggests that inner-ear antigens may be cross-species but organ-specific antigens.