Regenerating Hearing: Researchers Begin First-Ever Study of Stem Cells to Treat Hearing Loss

ASHA Leader ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 5-6
Author(s):  
Nancy Caleffe-Schenck
Keyword(s):  
Author(s):  
Aida Nourbakhsh ◽  
Brett M. Colbert ◽  
Eric Nisenbaum ◽  
Aziz El-Amraoui ◽  
Derek M. Dykxhoorn ◽  
...  

AbstractProgressive non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss (PNSHL) is the most common cause of sensory impairment, affecting more than a third of individuals over the age of 65. PNSHL includes noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and inherited forms of deafness, among which is delayed-onset autosomal dominant hearing loss (AD PNSHL). PNSHL is a prime candidate for genetic therapies due to the fact that PNSHL has been studied extensively, and there is a potentially wide window between identification of the disorder and the onset of hearing loss. Several gene therapy strategies exist that show potential for targeting PNSHL, including viral and non-viral approaches, and gene editing versus gene-modulating approaches. To fully explore the potential of these therapy strategies, a faithful in vitro model of the human inner ear is needed. Such models may come from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The development of new treatment modalities by combining iPSC modeling with novel and innovative gene therapy approaches will pave the way for future applications leading to improved quality of life for many affected individuals and their families.


2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 217
Author(s):  
Majid Asadi-Samani ◽  
MohammadReza Mahmoudian-Sani ◽  
Ameneh Mehri-Ghahfarrokhi ◽  
GhollamReza Poorshahbazi

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 ◽  
pp. 139-152
Author(s):  
Hoda H. Hussein Abd El Raouf ◽  
Rania A. Galhom ◽  
Mona H. Mohammed Ali ◽  
Wael Amin Nasr El-Din

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin T. Chorath ◽  
Matthew J. Willis ◽  
Nicolas Morton-Gonzaba ◽  
Walter J. Humann ◽  
Alvaro Moreira

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang-qiang Tan ◽  
Xia Gao ◽  
Lang Guo ◽  
He Huang

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) expressing recombinant IL-4 have the potential to remediate inflammatory diseases. We thus investigated whether BMSCs expressing exogenous IL-4 could alleviate autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss. BMSCs isolated from guinea pigs were transfected with recombinant lentivirus expressing IL-4. A total of 33 animals were divided into three groups. Group A received scala tympani injection of IL-4-expressing BMSCs, and Group B received control vector-expressing BMSCs, and Group C received phosphate-buffered saline. The distribution of implanted BMSCs in the inner ears was assessed by immunohistochemistry and fluorescence microscopy. Auditory brain-stem response (ABR) was monitored to evaluate the auditory changes. Following BMSCs transplantation, the threshold levels of ABR wave III decreased in Groups A and B and significant differences were observed between these two groupsP<0.05. Transplanted BMSCs distributed in the scala tympani and scala vestibuli. In some ears with hearing loss, there was a decrease in the number of spiral ganglion cells and varying degrees of endolymphatic hydrops or floccule. Following transplantation, the lentivirus-infected BMSCs migrated to the inner ear and produced IL-4. Our results demonstrate that, upon transplantation, BMSCs and BMSCs expressing recombinant IL-4 have the ability to remediate the inflammatory injury in autoimmune inner ear diseases.


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