Fig. 6

Sox2 overexpression suppressed noise-induced upregulation of IL6 and TNF-α. A IL6 immunofluorescence in cochlear cross-section after noise treatment. The IL6 expression level was elevated after traumatic noise exposure in HCs, while it was inhibited in the Sox2 overexpression group. Myosin7a is used as a marker of cochlear HCs. B Western blot analysis of sensory epithelia shows increased expression levels of TNF-α and IL6 in control mice after noise injury, but it was significantly inhibited in Prestin-Sox2OE mice. β-Actin served as the sample loading control. Data are presented as means ± SEM.; n = 3. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. Scale bar = 20 μm