Megan Beers Wood Research Updates / Discussion: Cochlear Inflammation & Pain Hyperacusis Mice Model

[StoneInFocus]

I wanted to make a separate thread for discussing the subject of cochlear inflammation, its relation to pain hyperacusis, and Megan Beers Wood's research. Here is my latest mail exchange with her (omitting the usual formalities):

As a hyperacusis and tinnitus sufferer I would be interested to know how your current research on painful hyperacusis and cochlear inflammation is doing. Will your presentation at the University of Iowa also become publicly available? Looking forward to hearing from you.

I am not planning to publicly release my presentation, but I believe it was recorded by the conference. So, it may be available through the organizer, Rich Tyler.

As I presented, I am in the early stages of setting up an animal model to measure pain in animals listening to noise. I am hoping to compare mice that show a painful reaction to sound to those who do not after both groups have been exposed to damaging sound. This work is in its early stages as I am still a junior member of another scientist's laboratory. I am hoping to start my own laboratory to work on this within the next two years.

May I ask in what ways you are going to compare these two groups of mice? Are you going to compare the genes or cochlear inflammation status of hyperacusis mice with normal mice, or are you still planning to test the effect of CGRP blockers on hyperacusis?

Yes, we are planning to test whether the inflammation status is different in mice that exhibit hyperacusis.

We are also planning to look at CGRP antagonists.

When can we expect to hear from you again?

I'm not sure when my next public lecture will be. I am writing up part of the CGRP project and will be presenting some data at ARO this year.

 

[Josh59]

I wanted to make a separate thread for discussing the subject of cochlear inflammation, its relation to pain hyperacusis, and Megan Beers Wood's research. Here is my latest mail exchange with her (omitting the usual formalities):

Thank you for this information @StoneInFocus.

Does Megan Beers Wood's study correspond to Paul Fuchs' work? I assume it's the same team?

In one of his first studies Arnaud Norena mentioned this:

it has been suggested that abnormal contractions (e.g. tonic contractions) of the tensor tympani muscle could trigger neurogenic inflammation. Indeed, fibres containing substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) have been found in the vicinity of the tensor tympani muscle.

Could the CGRP gene studied by Megan Beers Wood in the inner ear be identical to the one found in the middle ear?

The best thing would be to have drugs in the future to alleviate this pain.

 

[StoneInFocus]

Thank you for this information @StoneInFocus.

Does Megan Beers Wood's study correspond to Paul Fuchs' work? I assume it's the same team?

Wood and Fuchs have worked on some papers together before (see for example attached). I think you could see Wood as Fuch's protégé. In the past few of their papers they have investigated cochlear noxacusis mechanisms. They believe cochlear inflammation to be a possible factor in painful hyperacusis.

In one of his first studies Arnaud Norena mentioned this:

I'm not really knowledgeable in that regard, maybe I'll read his papers more carefully in the future.

 

[Josh59]

Has anyone tried this new Biohaven drug yet?

It's a new-generation molecule that antagonises the peptide linked to the calcitonin gene.

 

[MFM]

Has anyone tried this new Biohaven drug yet?

In case you haven't come across this thread yet already, it's discussed here:

Rimegepant for Treatment of Migraine and Phonophobia (Hyperacusis?)

Looks like someone has tried it for loudness hyperacusis, but it had no effect.

 

[Josh59]

Hello @Hazel and @Markku:

Do you think it would be possible for you to do an interview with Megan Beers Wood to find out more about this research and in particular about molecules that antagonise the alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRPa)?

Thank you.

 

[Josh59]

With regard to Megan Beers Wood's research, could the contractions of the tensor tympani muscle that cause pain be linked to the inner ear?

It would be interesting to know what type of symptoms correspond to Megan Beers Wood's work (inner ear) and Arnaud Norena's research (middle ear). Could the two be linked?

 

[StoneInFocus]

New Megan Beers Wood interview over at our friends at Hyperacusis Central.

https://hyperacusiscentral.org/interview-megan-beers-wood/