Influence of gain of function epithelial chloride channel ClC-Kb mutation on hearing thresholds

Hearing depends on functional ClC-K-type chloride channels composed of barttin with ClC-Ka or ClC-Kb. Loss-of-function mutations of the barttin gene BSND or of both, the ClC-Ka gene CLNKA and the ClC-Kb gene CLNKB lead to congenital deafness and renal salt wasting. Recently, we identified the gain-of-function mutation ClC-KbT481S which is associated with increased blood pressure. To explore the impact of ClC-KbT481S on hearing, healthy volunteers (n = 329) and individuals suffering from tinnitus (n = 246) volunteered for hearing tests (n = 348) and genetic analysis (n = 575). 19.1% of the individuals were heterozygote (ClC-KbT481S/ClC-Kb) and 1.7% homozygote carriers. Pure tone average hearing threshold (PTAt) for air conduction was significantly (p < 0.033) lower in ClC-KbT481S carriers (13.2 ± 1.2 dB) than in wild-type individuals (17.1 ± 0.9 dB). The prevalence of ClC-KbT481S carriers was significantly increased (29.7%) in individuals with PTAt < 15 dB (p < 0.05) and significantly decreased (13.2%) in individuals with PTAt > 30 dB (p < 0.017). The difference was largely due to the female population. Bone conduction was less affected pointing to an effect of the mutation on middle ear function. Tinnitus tended to be more frequent in ClC-KbT481S carriers, a difference, however, not statistically significant. In conclusion, hearing thresholds are slightly lower in carriers of ClC-KbT481S, i.e., the gain-of-function polymorphism ClC-KbT481S exerts a subtle but significant protective effect against hearing loss.