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Kersbergen CJ, Bergles DE. Priming central sound processing circuits through induction of spontaneous activity in the cochlea before hearing onset. Trends Neurosci 2024:S0166-2236(24)00065-1. [PMID: 38782701 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Sensory systems experience a period of intrinsically generated neural activity before maturation is complete and sensory transduction occurs. Here we review evidence describing the mechanisms and functions of this 'spontaneous' activity in the auditory system. Both ex vivo and in vivo studies indicate that this correlated activity is initiated by non-sensory supporting cells within the developing cochlea, which induce depolarization and burst firing of groups of nearby hair cells in the sensory epithelium, activity that is conveyed to auditory neurons that will later process similar sound features. This stereotyped neural burst firing promotes cellular maturation, synaptic refinement, acoustic sensitivity, and establishment of sound-responsive domains in the brain. While sensitive to perturbation, the developing auditory system exhibits remarkable homeostatic mechanisms to preserve periodic burst firing in deaf mice. Preservation of this early spontaneous activity in the context of deafness may enhance the efficacy of later interventions to restore hearing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calvin J Kersbergen
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dwight E Bergles
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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2
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Rommelspacher H, Bera S, Brommer B, Ward R, Kwiatkowska M, Zygmunt T, Theden F, Üsekes B, Eren N, Nieratschker M, Arnoldner C, Plontke SK, Hellmann-Regen J, Schlingensiepen R. A single dose of AC102 restores hearing in a guinea pig model of noise-induced hearing loss to almost prenoise levels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2314763121. [PMID: 38557194 PMCID: PMC11009624 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2314763121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Although sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a serious condition, there are currently no approved drugs for its treatment. Nevertheless, there is a growing understanding that the cochlear pathologies that underlie SSNHL include apoptotic death of sensory outer hair cells (OHCs) as well as loss of ribbon synapses connecting sensory inner hair cells (IHCs) and neurites of the auditory nerve, designated synaptopathy. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a common subtype of SSNHL and is widely used to model hearing loss preclinically. Here, we demonstrate that a single interventive application of a small pyridoindole molecule (AC102) into the middle ear restored auditory function almost to prenoise levels in a guinea pig model of NIHL. AC102 prevented noise-triggered loss of OHCs and reduced IHC synaptopathy suggesting a role of AC102 in reconnecting auditory neurons to their sensory target cells. Notably, AC102 exerted its therapeutic properties over a wide frequency range. Such strong improvements in hearing have not previously been demonstrated for other therapeutic agents. In vitro experiments of a neuronal damage model revealed that AC102 protected cells from apoptosis and promoted neurite growth. These effects may be explained by increased production of adenosine triphosphate, indicating improved mitochondrial function, and reduced levels of reactive-oxygen species which prevents the apoptotic processes responsible for OHC death. This action profile of AC102 might be causal for the observed hearing recovery in in vivo models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sujoy Bera
- AudioCure Pharma GmbH, Berlin10115, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Berk Üsekes
- AudioCure Pharma GmbH, Berlin10115, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Section Clinical Neurobiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin12203, Germany
| | - Neriman Eren
- AudioCure Pharma GmbH, Berlin10115, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Section Clinical Neurobiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin12203, Germany
| | - Michael Nieratschker
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna1090, Austria
| | - Christoph Arnoldner
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna1090, Austria
| | - Stefan K. Plontke
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle06120, Germany
| | - Julian Hellmann-Regen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Section Clinical Neurobiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin12203, Germany
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3
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Sato MP, Benkafadar N, Heller S. Hair cell regeneration, reinnervation, and restoration of hearing thresholds in the avian hearing organ. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113822. [PMID: 38393948 PMCID: PMC11068303 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Hearing starts, at the cellular level, with mechanoelectrical transduction by sensory hair cells. Sound information is then transmitted via afferent synaptic connections with auditory neurons. Frequency information is encoded by the location of hair cells along the cochlear duct. Loss of hair cells, synapses, or auditory neurons leads to permanent hearing loss in mammals. Birds, in contrast, regenerate auditory hair cells and functionally recover from hearing loss. Here, we characterized regeneration and reinnervation in sisomicin-deafened chickens and found that afferent neurons contact regenerated hair cells at the tips of basal projections. In contrast to development, synaptic specializations are established at these locations distant from the hair cells' bodies. The protrusions then contracted as regenerated hair cells matured and became functional 2 weeks post-deafening. We found that auditory thresholds recovered after 4-5 weeks. We interpret the regeneration-specific synaptic reestablishment as a location-preserving process that might be needed to maintain tonotopic fidelity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsuo P Sato
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kindai University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Nesrine Benkafadar
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Stefan Heller
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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4
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Singh J, Randle MR, Walters BJ, Cox BC. The transcription factor Pou4f3 is essential for the survival of postnatal and adult mouse cochlear hair cells and normal hearing. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1369282. [PMID: 38566840 PMCID: PMC10985149 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1369282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Hair cells (HCs) of the cochlea are responsible for sound transduction and hearing perception in mammals. Genetic mutations in the transcription factor Pou4f3 cause non-syndromic autosomal dominant hearing loss in humans (DFNA15) which varies in the age of onset depending on the individual mutation. Mouse models with germline deletion or mutations in Pou4f3 have previously demonstrated its critical role in the maturation and survival of cochlear HCs during embryonic development. However, the role of Pou4f3 in auditory function and in the survival or maintenance of cochlear HCs after birth and during adulthood has not been studied. Methods Therefore, using the inducible CreER-loxP system, we deleted Pou4f3 from mouse cochlear HCs at different postnatal ages, relevant to specific stages of HC maturation and hearing function. Results and discussion Elevated auditory brainstem response thresholds and significant HC loss were detected in mice with Pou4f3 deletion compared to their control littermates, regardless of the age when Pou4f3 was deleted. However, HC loss occurred more rapidly when Pou4f3 was deleted from immature HCs. Additionally, HC loss caused by Pou4f3 deletion did not affect the number of cochlear supporting cells, but caused a delayed loss of spiral ganglion neurons at 4 months after the deletion. In conclusion, Pou4f3 is necessary for the survival of cochlear HCs and normal hearing at all postnatal ages regardless of their maturation state. Our data also suggest that Pou4f3 indirectly regulates the survival of spiral ganglion neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarnail Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, United States
| | - Michelle R. Randle
- Department of Pharmacology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, United States
| | - Bradley J. Walters
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Brandon C. Cox
- Department of Pharmacology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, United States
- Department of Otolaryngology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, United States
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5
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Cao Y, Li R, Bai L. Vagal sensory pathway for the gut-brain communication. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 156:228-243. [PMID: 37558522 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
The communication between the gut and brain is crucial for regulating various essential physiological functions, such as energy balance, fluid homeostasis, immune response, and emotion. The vagal sensory pathway plays an indispensable role in connecting the gut to the brain. Recently, our knowledge of the vagal gut-brain axis has significantly advanced through molecular genetic studies, revealing a diverse range of vagal sensory cell types with distinct peripheral innervations, response profiles, and physiological functions. Here, we review the current understanding of how vagal sensory neurons contribute to gut-brain communication. First, we highlight recent transcriptomic and genetic approaches that have characterized different vagal sensory cell types. Then, we focus on discussing how different subtypes encode numerous gut-derived signals and how their activities are translated into physiological and behavioral regulations. The emerging insights into the diverse cell types and functional properties of vagal sensory neurons have paved the way for exciting future directions, which may provide valuable insights into potential therapeutic targets for disorders involving gut-brain communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyun Cao
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Rui Li
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 102206, China; State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Ling Bai
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing 102206, China.
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6
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Wang G, Gu Y, Liu Z. Deciphering the genetic interactions between Pou4f3, Gfi1, and Rbm24 in maintaining mouse cochlear hair cell survival. eLife 2024; 12:RP90025. [PMID: 38483314 PMCID: PMC10939501 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Mammals harbor a limited number of sound-receptor hair cells (HCs) that cannot be regenerated after damage. Thus, investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms that maintain HC survival is crucial for preventing hearing impairment. Intriguingly, Pou4f3-/- or Gfi1-/- HCs form initially but then rapidly degenerate, whereas Rbm24-/- HCs degenerate considerably later. However, the transcriptional cascades involving Pou4f3, Gfi1, and Rbm24 remain undescribed. Here, we demonstrate that Rbm24 expression is completely repressed in Pou4f3-/- HCs but unaltered in Gfi1-/- HCs, and further that the expression of both POU4F3 and GFI1 is intact in Rbm24-/- HCs. Moreover, by using in vivo mouse transgenic reporter assays, we identify three Rbm24 enhancers to which POU4F3 binds. Lastly, through in vivo genetic testing of whether Rbm24 restoration alleviates the degeneration of Pou4f3-/- HCs, we show that ectopic Rbm24 alone cannot prevent Pou4f3-/- HCs from degenerating. Collectively, our findings provide new molecular and genetic insights into how HC survival is regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangqin Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yunpeng Gu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence TechnologyShanghaiChina
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7
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Kreeger LJ, Honnuraiah S, Maeker S, Shea S, Fishell G, Goodrich LV. An Anatomical and Physiological Basis for Coincidence Detection Across Time Scales in the Auditory System. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.29.582808. [PMID: 38464181 PMCID: PMC10925315 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.29.582808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Coincidence detection is a common neural computation that identifies co-occurring stimuli by integration of inputs. In the auditory system, octopus cells act as coincidence detectors for complex sounds that include both synchronous and sequenced combinations of frequencies. Octopus cells must detect coincidence on both the millisecond and submillisecond time scale, unlike the average neuron, which integrates inputs over time on the order of tens of milliseconds. Here, we show that octopus cell computations in the cell body are shaped by inhibition in the dendrites, which adjusts the strength and timing of incoming signals to achieve submillisecond acuity. This mechanism is crucial for the fundamental process of integrating the synchronized frequencies of natural auditory signals over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren J Kreeger
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Suraj Honnuraiah
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Sydney Maeker
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Siobhan Shea
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Gord Fishell
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Lisa V Goodrich
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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8
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Lu Y, Liu J, Li B, Wang H, Wang F, Wang S, Wu H, Han H, Hua Y. Spatial patterns of noise-induced inner hair cell ribbon loss in the mouse mid-cochlea. iScience 2024; 27:108825. [PMID: 38313060 PMCID: PMC10835352 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
In the mammalian cochlea, moderate acoustic overexposure leads to loss of ribbon-type synapse between the inner hair cell (IHC) and its postsynaptic spiral ganglion neuron (SGN), causing a reduced dynamic range of hearing but not a permanent threshold elevation. A prevailing view is that such ribbon loss (known as synaptopathy) selectively impacts the low-spontaneous-rate and high-threshold SGN fibers contacting predominantly the modiolar IHC face. However, the spatial pattern of synaptopathy remains scarcely characterized in the most sensitive mid-cochlear region, where two morphological subtypes of IHC with distinct ribbon size gradients coexist. Here, we used volume electron microscopy to investigate noise exposure-related changes in the mouse IHCs with and without ribbon loss. Our quantifications reveal that IHC subtypes differ in the worst-hit area of synaptopathy. Moreover, we show relative enrichment of mitochondria in the surviving SGN terminals, providing key experimental evidence for the long-proposed role of SGN-terminal mitochondria in synaptic vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai 200125, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai 200125, China
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Laboratory of Brain Atlas and Brain-inspired Intelligence, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Bei Li
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai 200125, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai 200125, China
| | - Haoyu Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
| | - Fangfang Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
| | - Shengxiong Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai 200125, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai 200125, China
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
| | - Hua Han
- Laboratory of Brain Atlas and Brain-inspired Intelligence, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
- State Key Laboratory of Multimodal Artificial Intelligence Systems, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Yunfeng Hua
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai 200125, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai 200125, China
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
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9
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Jukic A, Lei Z, Cebul ER, Pinter K, Mosqueda N, David S, Tarchini B, Kindt K. Presynaptic Nrxn3 is essential for ribbon-synapse assembly in hair cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.14.580267. [PMID: 38410471 PMCID: PMC10896334 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.14.580267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Hair cells of the inner ear rely on specialized ribbon synapses to transmit sensory information to the central nervous system. The molecules required to assemble these synapses are not fully understood. We show that Nrxn3, a presynaptic adhesion molecule, is critical for ribbon-synapse assembly in hair cells. In both mouse and zebrafish models, loss of Nrxn3 results in significantly fewer intact ribbon synapses. In zebrafish we demonstrate that a 60% loss of synapses in nrxn3 mutants dramatically reduces both presynaptic responses in hair cells and postsynaptic responses in afferent neurons. Despite a reduction in synapse function in this model, we find no deficits in the acoustic startle response, a behavior reliant on these synapses. Overall, this work demonstrates that Nrxn3 is a critical and conserved molecule required to assemble ribbon synapses. Understanding how ribbon synapses assemble is a key step towards generating novel therapies to treat forms of age-related and noise-induced hearing loss that occur due to loss of ribbon synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alma Jukic
- Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Zhengchang Lei
- Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Cebul
- Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Katherine Pinter
- Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Natalie Mosqueda
- Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Sandeep David
- Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | | | - Katie Kindt
- Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
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10
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Wang SX, Streit A. Shared features in ear and kidney development - implications for oto-renal syndromes. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050447. [PMID: 38353121 PMCID: PMC10886756 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The association between ear and kidney anomalies has long been recognized. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms. In the last two decades, embryonic development of the inner ear and kidney has been studied extensively. Here, we describe the developmental pathways shared between both organs with particular emphasis on the genes that regulate signalling cross talk and the specification of progenitor cells and specialised cell types. We relate this to the clinical features of oto-renal syndromes and explore links to developmental mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scarlet Xiaoyan Wang
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Andrea Streit
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
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11
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Xie R, Wang M, Zhang C. Mechanisms of age-related hearing loss at the auditory nerve central synapses and postsynaptic neurons in the cochlear nucleus. Hear Res 2024; 442:108935. [PMID: 38113793 PMCID: PMC10842789 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2023.108935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Sound information is transduced from mechanical vibration to electrical signals in the cochlea, conveyed to and further processed in the brain to form auditory perception. During the process, spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) are the key cells that connect the peripheral and central auditory systems by receiving information from hair cells in the cochlea and transmitting it to neurons of the cochlear nucleus (CN). Decades of research in the cochlea greatly improved our understanding of SGN function under normal and pathological conditions, especially about the roles of different subtypes of SGNs and their peripheral synapses. However, it remains less clear how SGN central terminals or auditory nerve (AN) synapses connect to CN neurons, and ultimately how peripheral pathology links to structural alterations and functional deficits in the central auditory nervous system. This review discusses recent progress about the morphological and physiological properties of different subtypes of AN synapses and associated postsynaptic CN neurons, their changes during aging, and the potential mechanisms underlying age-related hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruili Xie
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Ohio State University, 420 W 12th Ave, Columbus OH 43210, USA; Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, 420W 12th Ave, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Meijian Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Ohio State University, 420 W 12th Ave, Columbus OH 43210, USA
| | - Chuangeng Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Ohio State University, 420 W 12th Ave, Columbus OH 43210, USA
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12
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Cepeda AP, Ninov M, Neef J, Parfentev I, Kusch K, Reisinger E, Jahn R, Moser T, Urlaub H. Proteomic Analysis Reveals the Composition of Glutamatergic Organelles of Auditory Inner Hair Cells. Mol Cell Proteomics 2024; 23:100704. [PMID: 38128648 PMCID: PMC10832297 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2023.100704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In the ear, inner hair cells (IHCs) employ sophisticated glutamatergic ribbon synapses with afferent neurons to transmit auditory information to the brain. The presynaptic machinery responsible for neurotransmitter release in IHC synapses includes proteins such as the multi-C2-domain protein otoferlin and the vesicular glutamate transporter 3 (VGluT3). Yet, much of this likely unique molecular machinery remains to be deciphered. The scarcity of material has so far hampered biochemical studies which require large amounts of purified samples. We developed a subcellular fractionation workflow combined with immunoisolation of VGluT3-containing membrane vesicles, allowing for the enrichment of glutamatergic organelles that are likely dominated by synaptic vesicles (SVs) of IHCs. We have characterized their protein composition in mice before and after hearing onset using mass spectrometry and confocal imaging and provide a fully annotated proteome with hitherto unidentified proteins. Despite the prevalence of IHC marker proteins across IHC maturation, the profiles of trafficking proteins differed markedly before and after hearing onset. Among the proteins enriched after hearing onset were VAMP-7, syntaxin-7, syntaxin-8, syntaxin-12/13, SCAMP1, V-ATPase, SV2, and PKCα. Our study provides an inventory of the machinery associated with synaptic vesicle-mediated trafficking and presynaptic activity at IHC ribbon synapses and serves as a foundation for future functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia P Cepeda
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Momchil Ninov
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany; Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jakob Neef
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Auditory Neuroscience & Synaptic Nanophysiology Group Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Iwan Parfentev
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Kusch
- Functional Auditory Genomics Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ellen Reisinger
- Gene Therapy for Hearing Impairment and Deafness, Department for Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Reinhard Jahn
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Tobias Moser
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Auditory Neuroscience & Synaptic Nanophysiology Group Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Henning Urlaub
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany; Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
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13
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Lee JH, Park S, Perez-Flores MC, Chen Y, Kang M, Choi J, Levine L, Gratton MA, Zhao J, Notterpek L, Yamoah EN. Demyelination and Na + Channel Redistribution Underlie Auditory and Vestibular Dysfunction in PMP22-Null Mice. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0462-23.2023. [PMID: 38378628 PMCID: PMC11059428 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0462-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Altered expression of peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) results in demyelinating peripheral neuropathy. PMP22 exhibits a highly restricted tissue distribution with marked expression in the myelinating Schwann cells of peripheral nerves. Auditory and vestibular Schwann cells and the afferent neurons also express PMP22, suggesting a unique role in hearing and balancing. Indeed, neuropathic patients diagnosed with PMP22-linked hereditary neuropathies often present with auditory and balance deficits, an understudied clinical complication. To investigate the mechanism by which abnormal expression of PMP22 may cause auditory and vestibular deficits, we studied gene-targeted PMP22-null mice. PMP22-null mice exhibit an unsteady gait, have difficulty maintaining balance, and live for only ∼3-5 weeks relative to unaffected littermates. Histological analysis of the inner ear revealed reduced auditory and vestibular afferent nerve myelination and profound Na+ channel redistribution without PMP22. Yet, Na+ current density was unaltered, in stark contrast to increased K+ current density. Atypical postsynaptic densities and a range of neuronal abnormalities in the organ of Corti were also identified. Analyses of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) and vestibular sensory-evoked potential (VsEP) revealed that PMP22-null mice had auditory and vestibular hypofunction. These results demonstrate that PMP22 is required for hearing and balance, and the protein is indispensable for the formation and maintenance of myelin in the peripheral arm of the eighth nerve. Our findings indicate that myelin abnormalities and altered signal propagation in the peripheral arm of the auditory nerve are likely causes of auditory deficits in patients with PMP22-linked neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong Han Lee
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno 89557, Nevada
| | - Seojin Park
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno 89557, Nevada
- Prestige BioPharma, Busan 67264, South Korea
| | - Maria C Perez-Flores
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno 89557, Nevada
| | - Yingying Chen
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno 89557, Nevada
| | - Mincheol Kang
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno 89557, Nevada
- Prestige BioPharma, Busan 67264, South Korea
| | - Jinsil Choi
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno 89557, Nevada
| | - Lauren Levine
- Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis 63110, Missouri
| | | | - Jie Zhao
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno 89557, Nevada
| | - Lucia Notterpek
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno 89557, Nevada
| | - Ebenezer N Yamoah
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno 89557, Nevada
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14
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Lu J, Wang M, Meng Y, An W, Wang X, Sun G, Wang H, Liu W. Current advances in biomaterials for inner ear cell regeneration. Front Neurosci 2024; 17:1334162. [PMID: 38282621 PMCID: PMC10811200 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1334162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Inner ear cell regeneration from stem/progenitor cells provides potential therapeutic strategies for the restoration of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), however, the efficiency of regeneration is low and the functions of differentiated cells are not yet mature. Biomaterials have been used in inner ear cell regeneration to construct a more physiologically relevant 3D culture system which mimics the stem cell microenvironment and facilitates cellular interactions. Currently, these biomaterials include hydrogel, conductive materials, magneto-responsive materials, photo-responsive materials, etc. We analyzed the characteristics and described the advantages and limitations of these materials. Furthermore, we reviewed the mechanisms by which biomaterials with different physicochemical properties act on the inner ear cell regeneration and depicted the current status of the material selection based on their characteristics to achieve the reconstruction of the auditory circuits. The application of biomaterials in inner ear cell regeneration offers promising opportunities for the reconstruction of the auditory circuits and the restoration of hearing, yet biomaterials should be strategically explored and combined according to the obstacles to be solved in the inner ear cell regeneration research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junze Lu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Jinan, China
| | - Man Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Jinan, China
| | - Yu Meng
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Jinan, China
| | - Weibin An
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Jinan, China
| | - Xue Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Jinan, China
| | - Gaoying Sun
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Jinan, China
| | - Haibo Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Jinan, China
| | - Wenwen Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Jinan, China
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15
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Qi J, Huang W, Lu Y, Yang X, Zhou Y, Chen T, Wang X, Yu Y, Sun JQ, Chai R. Stem Cell-Based Hair Cell Regeneration and Therapy in the Inner Ear. Neurosci Bull 2024; 40:113-126. [PMID: 37787875 PMCID: PMC10774470 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01130-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Hearing loss has become increasingly prevalent and causes considerable disability, thus gravely burdening the global economy. Irreversible loss of hair cells is a main cause of sensorineural hearing loss, and currently, the only relatively effective clinical treatments are limited to digital hearing equipment like cochlear implants and hearing aids, but these are of limited benefit in patients. It is therefore urgent to understand the mechanisms of damage repair in order to develop new neuroprotective strategies. At present, how to promote the regeneration of functional hair cells is a key scientific question in the field of hearing research. Multiple signaling pathways and transcriptional factors trigger the activation of hair cell progenitors and ensure the maturation of newborn hair cells, and in this article, we first review the principal mechanisms underlying hair cell reproduction. We then further discuss therapeutic strategies involving the co-regulation of multiple signaling pathways in order to induce effective functional hair cell regeneration after degeneration, and we summarize current achievements in hair cell regeneration. Lastly, we discuss potential future approaches, such as small molecule drugs and gene therapy, which might be applied for regenerating functional hair cells in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieyu Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Wenjuan Huang
- Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Yicheng Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Xuehan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Yinyi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Tian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Xiaohan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Yafeng Yu
- First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.
| | - Jia-Qiang Sun
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, China.
| | - Renjie Chai
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, China.
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100101, China.
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16
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Vincent PF, Young ED, Edge AS, Glowatzki E. Auditory Hair Cells and Spiral Ganglion Neurons Regenerate Synapses with Refined Release Properties In Vitro. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.05.561095. [PMID: 38076928 PMCID: PMC10705289 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.05.561095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Ribbon synapses between inner hair cells (IHCs) and type I spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) in the inner ear are damaged by noise trauma and with aging, causing 'synaptopathy 'and hearing loss. Co-cultures of neonatal denervated organs of Corti and newly introduced SGNs have been developed to find strategies for improving IHC synapse regeneration, but evidence of the physiological normality of regenerated synapses is missing. This study utilizes IHC optogenetic stimulation and SGN recordings, showing that newly formed IHC synapses are indeed functional, exhibiting glutamatergic excitatory postsynaptic currents. When older organs of Corti were plated, synaptic activity probed by deconvolution, showed more mature release properties, closer to the highly specialized mode of IHC synaptic transmission that is crucial for coding the sound signal. This newly developed functional assessment of regenerated IHC synapses provides a powerful tool for testing approaches to improve synapse regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe F.Y. Vincent
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Eric D. Young
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Albert S.B. Edge
- Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elisabeth Glowatzki
- The Center for Hearing and Balance, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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17
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Pan Y, Li S, He S, Wang G, Li C, Liu Z, Xiang M. Fgf8 P2A-3×GFP/+: A New Genetic Mouse Model for Specifically Labeling and Sorting Cochlear Inner Hair Cells. Neurosci Bull 2023; 39:1762-1774. [PMID: 37233921 PMCID: PMC10661496 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01069-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The cochlear auditory epithelium contains two types of sound receptors, inner hair cells (IHCs) and outer hair cells (OHCs). Mouse models for labelling juvenile and adult IHCs or OHCs exist; however, labelling for embryonic and perinatal IHCs or OHCs are lacking. Here, we generated a new knock-in Fgf8P2A-3×GFP/+ (Fgf8GFP/+) strain, in which the expression of a series of three GFP fragments is controlled by endogenous Fgf8 cis-regulatory elements. After confirming that GFP expression accurately reflects the expression of Fgf8, we successfully obtained both embryonic and neonatal IHCs with high purity, highlighting the power of Fgf8GFP/+. Furthermore, our fate-mapping analysis revealed, unexpectedly, that IHCs are also derived from inner ear progenitors expressing Insm1, which is currently regarded as an OHC marker. Thus, besides serving as a highly favorable tool for sorting early IHCs, Fgf8GFP/+ will facilitate the isolation of pure early OHCs by excluding IHCs from the entire hair cell pool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Pan
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Shuting Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shunji He
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Guangqin Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Chao Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
- Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai, 201210, China.
| | - Mingliang Xiang
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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18
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Long Z, Lin W, Li P, Wang B, Pan Q, Yang X, Lee WW, Chung HSH, Yang Z. One-wire reconfigurable and damage-tolerant sensor matrix inspired by the auditory tonotopy. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadi6633. [PMID: 38019910 PMCID: PMC10686563 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi6633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Sensor matrices are essential in various fields including robotics, aviation, health care, and industrial machinery. However, conventional sensor matrix systems often face challenges such as limited reconfigurability, complex wiring, and poor robustness. To address these issues, we introduce a one-wire reconfigurable sensor matrix that is capable of conforming to three-dimensional curved surfaces and resistant to cross-talk and fractures. Our frequency-located technology, inspired by the auditory tonotopy, reduces the number of output wires from row × column to a single wire by superimposing the signals of all sensor units with unique frequency identities. The sensor units are connected through a shared redundant network, giving great freedom for reconfiguration and facilitating quick repairs. The one-wire frequency-located technology is demonstrated in two applications-a pressure sensor matrix and a pressure-temperature multimodal sensor matrix. In addition, we also show its potential in monitoring strain distribution in an airplane wing, emphasizing its advantages in simplified wiring and improved robustness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihe Long
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- School of Physics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Weikang Lin
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pengyu Li
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Biao Wang
- School of Artificial Intelligence, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiqi Pan
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaodan Yang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wang Wei Lee
- Robotics X Laboratory, Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd, Shenzhen, China
| | - Henry Shu-Hung Chung
- Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhengbao Yang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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19
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Moser T, Karagulyan N, Neef J, Jaime Tobón LM. Diversity matters - extending sound intensity coding by inner hair cells via heterogeneous synapses. EMBO J 2023; 42:e114587. [PMID: 37800695 PMCID: PMC10690447 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2023114587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Our sense of hearing enables the processing of stimuli that differ in sound pressure by more than six orders of magnitude. How to process a wide range of stimulus intensities with temporal precision is an enigmatic phenomenon of the auditory system. Downstream of dynamic range compression by active cochlear micromechanics, the inner hair cells (IHCs) cover the full intensity range of sound input. Yet, the firing rate in each of their postsynaptic spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) encodes only a fraction of it. As a population, spiral ganglion neurons with their respective individual coding fractions cover the entire audible range. How such "dynamic range fractionation" arises is a topic of current research and the focus of this review. Here, we discuss mechanisms for generating the diverse functional properties of SGNs and formulate testable hypotheses. We postulate that an interplay of synaptic heterogeneity, molecularly distinct subtypes of SGNs, and efferent modulation serves the neural decomposition of sound information and thus contributes to a population code for sound intensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Moser
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLabUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Synaptic Nanophysiology GroupMax Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
- Cluster of Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging of Excitable Cells”GöttingenGermany
| | - Nare Karagulyan
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLabUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Synaptic Nanophysiology GroupMax Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
- Hertha Sponer CollegeCluster of Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging of Excitable Cells” Cluster of ExcellenceGöttingenGermany
| | - Jakob Neef
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLabUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Synaptic Nanophysiology GroupMax Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Lina María Jaime Tobón
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLabUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Synaptic Nanophysiology GroupMax Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
- Hertha Sponer CollegeCluster of Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging of Excitable Cells” Cluster of ExcellenceGöttingenGermany
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20
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de Nooij JC, Zampieri N. The making of a proprioceptor: a tale of two identities. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:1083-1094. [PMID: 37858440 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Proprioception, the sense of body position in space, has a critical role in the control of posture and movement. Aside from skin and joint receptors, the main sources of proprioceptive information in tetrapods are mechanoreceptive end organs in skeletal muscle: muscle spindles (MSs) and Golgi tendon organs (GTOs). The sensory neurons that innervate these receptors are divided into subtypes that detect discrete aspects of sensory information from muscles with different biomechanical functions. Despite the importance of proprioceptive neurons in motor control, the developmental mechanisms that control the acquisition of their distinct functional properties and positional identity are not yet clear. In this review, we discuss recent findings on the development of mouse proprioceptor subtypes and challenges in defining them at the molecular and functional level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joriene C de Nooij
- Department of Neurology, Division of Translational Neurobiology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 650 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA; Columbia University Motor Neuron Center, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - Niccolò Zampieri
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany.
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21
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Boussaty EC, Tedeschi N, Novotny M, Ninoyu Y, Du E, Draf C, Zhang Y, Manor U, Scheuermann RH, Friedman R. Cochlear transcriptome analysis of an outbred mouse population (CFW). Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1256619. [PMID: 38094513 PMCID: PMC10716316 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1256619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is the most common cause of hearing loss and one of the most prevalent conditions affecting the elderly worldwide. Despite evidence from our lab and others about its polygenic nature, little is known about the specific genes, cell types, and pathways involved in ARHL, impeding the development of therapeutic interventions. In this manuscript, we describe, for the first time, the complete cell-type specific transcriptome of the aging mouse cochlea using snRNA-seq in an outbred mouse model in relation to auditory threshold variation. Cochlear cell types were identified using unsupervised clustering and annotated via a three-tiered approach-first by linking to expression of known marker genes, then using the NSForest algorithm to select minimum cluster-specific marker genes and reduce dimensional feature space for statistical comparison of our clusters with existing publicly-available data sets on the gEAR website, and finally, by validating and refining the annotations using Multiplexed Error Robust Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (MERFISH) and the cluster-specific marker genes as probes. We report on 60 unique cell-types expanding the number of defined cochlear cell types by more than two times. Importantly, we show significant specific cell type increases and decreases associated with loss of hearing acuity implicating specific subsets of hair cell subtypes, ganglion cell subtypes, and cell subtypes within the stria vascularis in this model of ARHL. These results provide a view into the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for age-related hearing loss and pathways for therapeutic targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ely Cheikh Boussaty
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Neil Tedeschi
- J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Mark Novotny
- J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Yuzuru Ninoyu
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Eric Du
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Clara Draf
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Yun Zhang
- J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Uri Manor
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Center, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Richard H. Scheuermann
- J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Rick Friedman
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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22
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Ma X, Guo J, Tian M, Fu Y, Jiang P, Zhang Y, Chai R. Advance and Application of Single-cell Transcriptomics in Auditory Research. Neurosci Bull 2023:10.1007/s12264-023-01149-z. [PMID: 38015350 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01149-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hearing loss and deafness, as a worldwide disability disease, have been troubling human beings. However, the auditory organ of the inner ear is highly heterogeneous and has a very limited number of cells, which are largely uncharacterized in depth. Recently, with the development and utilization of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), researchers have been able to unveil the complex and sophisticated biological mechanisms of various types of cells in the auditory organ at the single-cell level and address the challenges of cellular heterogeneity that are not resolved through by conventional bulk RNA sequencing (bulk RNA-seq). Herein, we reviewed the application of scRNA-seq technology in auditory research, with the aim of providing a reference for the development of auditory organs, the pathogenesis of hearing loss, and regenerative therapy. Prospects about spatial transcriptomic scRNA-seq, single-cell based genome, and Live-seq technology will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Jiamin Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Mengyao Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Yaoyang Fu
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University school of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310030, China
| | - Pei Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Jiangsu Provincial Key Medical Discipline (Laboratory), Nanjing, China
- Research Institute of Otolaryngology, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Renjie Chai
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, China.
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 101408, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
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23
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Gross J, Knipper M, Mazurek B. Candidate Key Proteins in Tinnitus: A Bioinformatic Study of Synaptic Transmission in Spiral Ganglion Neurons. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 43:4189-4207. [PMID: 37736859 PMCID: PMC10661836 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-023-01405-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
To study key proteins associated with changes in synaptic transmission in the spiral ganglion in tinnitus, we build three gene lists from the GeneCard database: 1. Perception of sound (PoS), 2. Acoustic stimulation (AcouStim), and 3. Tinnitus (Tin). Enrichment analysis by the DAVID database resulted in similar Gene Ontology (GO) terms for cellular components in all gene lists, reflecting synaptic structures known to be involved in auditory processing. The STRING protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and the Cytoscape data analyzer were used to identify the top two high-degree proteins (HDPs) and their high-score interaction proteins (HSIPs) identified by the combined score (CS) of the corresponding edges. The top two protein pairs (key proteins) for the PoS are BDNF-GDNF and OTOF-CACNA1D and for the AcouStim process BDNF-NTRK2 and TH-CALB1. The Tin process showed BDNF and NGF as HDPs, with high-score interactions with NTRK1 and NGFR at a comparable level. Compared to the PoS and AcouStim process, the number of HSIPs of key proteins (CS > 90. percentile) increases strongly in Tin. In the PoS and AcouStim networks, BDNF receptor signaling is the dominant pathway, and in the Tin network, the NGF-signaling pathway is of similar importance. Key proteins and their HSIPs are good indicators of biological processes and of signaling pathways characteristic for the normal hearing on the one hand and tinnitus on the other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johann Gross
- Tinnitus Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Leibniz Society of Science Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Marlies Knipper
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tübingen Hearing Research Center (THRC), Molecular Physiology of Hearing, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Leibniz Society of Science Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Birgit Mazurek
- Tinnitus Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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24
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Wang M, Lin S, Xie R. Apical-basal distribution of different subtypes of spiral ganglion neurons in the cochlea and the changes during aging. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292676. [PMID: 37883357 PMCID: PMC10602254 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Sound information is transmitted from the cochlea to the brain mainly by type I spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs), which consist of different subtypes with distinct physiological properties and selective expression of molecular markers. It remains unclear how these SGN subtypes distribute along the tonotopic axis, and whether the distribution pattern changes during aging that might underlie age-related hearing loss (ARHL). We investigated these questions using immunohistochemistry in three age groups of CBA/CaJ mice of either sex, including 2-5 months (young), 17-19 months (middle-age), and 28-32 months (old). Mouse cochleae were cryo-sectioned and triple-stained using antibodies against Tuj1, calretinin (CR) and calbindin (CB), which are reportedly expressed in all type I, subtype Ia, and subtype Ib SGNs, respectively. Labeled SGNs were classified into four groups based on the expression pattern of stained markers, including CR+ (subtype Ia), CB+ (subtype Ib), CR+CB+ (dual-labeled Ia/Ib), and CR-CB- (subtype Ic) neurons. The distribution of these SGN groups was analyzed in the apex, middle, and base regions of the cochleae. It showed that the prevalence of subtype Ia, Ib and dual-labeled Ia/Ib SGNs are high in the apex and low in the base. In contrast, the distribution pattern is reversed in Ic SGNs. Such frequency-dependent distribution is largely maintained during aging except for a preferential reduction of Ic SGNs, especially in the base. These findings corroborate the prior study based on RNAscope that SGN subtypes show differential vulnerability during aging. It suggests that sound processing of different frequencies involves distinct combinations of SGN subtypes, and the age-dependent loss of Ic SGNs in the base may especially impact high-frequency hearing during ARHL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meijian Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of Ameirca
| | - Shengyin Lin
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of Ameirca
| | - Ruili Xie
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of Ameirca
- Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of Ameirca
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25
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Rose KP, Manilla G, Milon B, Zalzman O, Song Y, Coate TM, Hertzano R. Spatially distinct otic mesenchyme cells show molecular and functional heterogeneity patterns before hearing onset. iScience 2023; 26:107769. [PMID: 37720106 PMCID: PMC10502415 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The cochlea consists of diverse cellular populations working in harmony to convert mechanical stimuli into electrical signals for the perception of sound. Otic mesenchyme cells (OMCs), often considered a homogeneous cell type, are essential for normal cochlear development and hearing. Despite being the most numerous cell type in the developing cochlea, OMCs are poorly understood. OMCs are known to differentiate into spatially and functionally distinct cell types, including fibrocytes of the lateral wall and spiral limbus, modiolar osteoblasts, and specialized tympanic border cells of the basilar membrane. Here, we show that OMCs are transcriptionally and functionally heterogeneous and can be divided into four distinct populations that spatially correspond to OMC-derived cochlear structures. We also show that this heterogeneity and complexity of OMCs commences during early phases of cochlear development. Finally, we describe the cell-cell communication network of the developing cochlea, inferring a major role for OMC in outgoing signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin P. Rose
- Neurotology Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Gabriella Manilla
- Neurotology Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Beatrice Milon
- Neurotology Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ori Zalzman
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Yang Song
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Thomas M. Coate
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007, USA
| | - Ronna Hertzano
- Neurotology Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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26
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Chen Y, Lee JH, Li J, Park S, Flores MCP, Peguero B, Kersigo J, Kang M, Choi J, Levine L, Gratton MA, Fritzsch B, Yamoah EN. Genetic and pharmacologic alterations of claudin9 levels suffice to induce functional and mature inner hair cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.08.561387. [PMID: 37873357 PMCID: PMC10592694 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.08.561387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Hearing loss is the most common form of sensory deficit. It occurs predominantly due to hair cell (HC) loss. Mammalian HCs are terminally differentiated by birth, making HC loss incurable. Here, we show the pharmacogenetic downregulation of Cldn9, a tight junction protein, generates robust supernumerary inner HCs (IHCs) in mice. The putative ectopic IHCs have functional and synaptic features akin to typical IHCs and were surprisingly and remarkably preserved for at least fifteen months >50% of the mouse's life cycle. In vivo, Cldn9 knockdown using shRNA on postnatal days (P) P1-7 yielded analogous functional putative ectopic IHCs that were equally durably conserved. The findings suggest that Cldn9 levels coordinate embryonic and postnatal HC differentiation, making it a viable target for altering IHC development pre- and post-terminal differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Chen
- University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Reno NV 89557
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Jeong Han Lee
- University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Reno NV 89557
| | - Jin Li
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Washington Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Seojin Park
- University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Reno NV 89557
- Prestige Biopharma, 11-12F, 44, Myongjigukje7-ro, Gangseo-gu, Busan, South Korea 67264
| | - Maria C. Perez Flores
- University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Reno NV 89557
| | - Braulio Peguero
- Otolaryngology-Head, Neck Surgery, St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri 63108
| | | | - Mincheol Kang
- University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Reno NV 89557
- Prestige Biopharma, 11-12F, 44, Myongjigukje7-ro, Gangseo-gu, Busan, South Korea 67264
| | - Jinsil Choi
- University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Reno NV 89557
| | | | | | | | - Ebenezer N. Yamoah
- University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Reno NV 89557
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27
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Petit C, Bonnet C, Safieddine S. Deafness: from genetic architecture to gene therapy. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:665-686. [PMID: 37173518 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00597-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Progress in deciphering the genetic architecture of human sensorineural hearing impairment (SNHI) or loss, and multidisciplinary studies of mouse models, have led to the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying auditory system function, primarily in the cochlea, the mammalian hearing organ. These studies have provided unparalleled insights into the pathophysiological processes involved in SNHI, paving the way for the development of inner-ear gene therapy based on gene replacement, gene augmentation or gene editing. The application of these approaches in preclinical studies over the past decade has highlighted key translational opportunities and challenges for achieving effective, safe and sustained inner-ear gene therapy to prevent or cure monogenic forms of SNHI and associated balance disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Petit
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Institut de l'Audition, F-75012, Paris, France.
- Collège de France, F-75005, Paris, France.
| | - Crystel Bonnet
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Institut de l'Audition, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Saaïd Safieddine
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Institut de l'Audition, F-75012, Paris, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, F-75016, Paris, France
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28
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Santiago C, Sharma N, Africawala N, Siegrist J, Handler A, Tasnim A, Anjum R, Turecek J, Lehnert BP, Renauld S, Nolan-Tamariz M, Iskols M, Magee AR, Paradis S, Ginty DD. Activity-dependent development of the body's touch receptors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.23.559109. [PMID: 37790437 PMCID: PMC10542488 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.23.559109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
We report a role for activity in the development of the primary sensory neurons that detect touch. Genetic deletion of Piezo2, the principal mechanosensitive ion channel in somatosensory neurons, caused profound changes in the formation of mechanosensory end organ structures and altered somatosensory neuron central targeting. Single cell RNA sequencing of Piezo2 conditional mutants revealed changes in gene expression in the sensory neurons activated by light mechanical forces, whereas other neuronal classes were less affected. To further test the role of activity in mechanosensory end organ development, we genetically deleted the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.6 (Scn8a) in somatosensory neurons throughout development and found that Scn8a mutants also have disrupted somatosensory neuron morphologies and altered electrophysiological responses to mechanical stimuli. Together, these findings indicate that mechanically evoked neuronal activity acts early in life to shape the maturation of the mechanosensory end organs that underlie our sense of gentle touch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Santiago
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Nikhil Sharma
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Nusrat Africawala
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Julianna Siegrist
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Annie Handler
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Aniqa Tasnim
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Rabia Anjum
- Department of Biology and Volen Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA
| | - Josef Turecek
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Brendan P. Lehnert
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Sophia Renauld
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Michael Nolan-Tamariz
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Michael Iskols
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Alexandra R. Magee
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Suzanne Paradis
- Department of Biology and Volen Center for Complex Systems, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02453, USA
| | - David D. Ginty
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Lead Contact
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29
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Mohamed T, Melfi V, Colciago A, Magnaghi V. Hearing loss and vestibular schwannoma: new insights into Schwann cells implication. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:629. [PMID: 37741837 PMCID: PMC10517973 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06141-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Hearing loss (HL) is the most common and heterogeneous disorder of the sensory system, with a large morbidity in the worldwide population. Among cells of the acoustic nerve (VIII cranial nerve), in the cochlea are present the hair cells, the spiral ganglion neurons, the glia-like supporting cells, and the Schwann cells (SCs), which alterations have been considered cause of HL. Notably, a benign SC-derived tumor of the acoustic nerve, named vestibular schwannoma (VS), has been indicated as cause of HL. Importantly, SCs are the main glial cells ensheathing axons and forming myelin in the peripheral nerves. Following an injury, the SCs reprogram, expressing some stemness features. Despite the mechanisms and factors controlling their biological processes (i.e., proliferation, migration, differentiation, and myelination) have been largely unveiled, their role in VS and HL was poorly investigated. In this review, we enlighten some of the mechanisms at the base of SCs transformation, VS development, and progression, likely leading to HL, and we pose great attention on the environmental factors that, in principle, could contribute to HL onset or progression. Combining the biomolecular bench-side approach to the clinical bedside practice may be helpful for the diagnosis, prediction, and therapeutic approach in otology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasnim Mohamed
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Melfi
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via G. Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Colciago
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Valerio Magnaghi
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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30
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Michanski S, Kapoor R, Steyer AM, Möbius W, Früholz I, Ackermann F, Gültas M, Garner CC, Hamra FK, Neef J, Strenzke N, Moser T, Wichmann C. Piccolino is required for ribbon architecture at cochlear inner hair cell synapses and for hearing. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e56702. [PMID: 37477166 PMCID: PMC10481675 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202256702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Cochlear inner hair cells (IHCs) form specialized ribbon synapses with spiral ganglion neurons that tirelessly transmit sound information at high rates over long time periods with extreme temporal precision. This functional specialization is essential for sound encoding and is attributed to a distinct molecular machinery with unique players or splice variants compared to conventional neuronal synapses. Among these is the active zone (AZ) scaffold protein piccolo/aczonin, which is represented by its short splice variant piccolino at cochlear and retinal ribbon synapses. While the function of piccolo at synapses of the central nervous system has been intensively investigated, the role of piccolino at IHC synapses remains unclear. In this study, we characterize the structure and function of IHC synapses in piccolo gene-trap mutant rats (Pclogt/gt ). We find a mild hearing deficit with elevated thresholds and reduced amplitudes of auditory brainstem responses. Ca2+ channel distribution and ribbon morphology are altered in apical IHCs, while their presynaptic function seems to be unchanged. We conclude that piccolino contributes to the AZ organization in IHCs and is essential for normal hearing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susann Michanski
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLabUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany
- Center for Biostructural Imaging of NeurodegenerationUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany
- Collaborative Research Center 889 “Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing”GöttingenGermany
- Multiscale Bioimaging of Excitable Cells, Cluster of ExcellenceGöttingenGermany
| | - Rohan Kapoor
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLabUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Synaptic Nanophysiology GroupMax Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
- IMPRS Molecular Biology, Göttingen Graduate School for Neuroscience and Molecular BiosciencesUniversity of GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Anna M Steyer
- Electron Microscopy Core Unit, Department of NeurogeneticsMax Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Wiebke Möbius
- Multiscale Bioimaging of Excitable Cells, Cluster of ExcellenceGöttingenGermany
- Electron Microscopy Core Unit, Department of NeurogeneticsMax Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Iris Früholz
- Developmental, Neural, and Behavioral Biology Master ProgramUniversity of GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | | | - Mehmet Gültas
- Faculty of AgricultureSouth Westphalia University of Applied SciencesSoestGermany
| | - Craig C Garner
- German Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesBerlinGermany
- NeuroCureCluster of ExcellenceCharité – UniversitätsmedizinBerlinGermany
| | - F Kent Hamra
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasTXUSA
| | - Jakob Neef
- Collaborative Research Center 889 “Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing”GöttingenGermany
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLabUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Synaptic Nanophysiology GroupMax Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Nicola Strenzke
- Collaborative Research Center 889 “Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing”GöttingenGermany
- Auditory Systems Physiology Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLabUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany
| | - Tobias Moser
- Collaborative Research Center 889 “Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing”GöttingenGermany
- Multiscale Bioimaging of Excitable Cells, Cluster of ExcellenceGöttingenGermany
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLabUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Synaptic Nanophysiology GroupMax Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencesGöttingenGermany
| | - Carolin Wichmann
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLabUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany
- Center for Biostructural Imaging of NeurodegenerationUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingenGermany
- Collaborative Research Center 889 “Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing”GöttingenGermany
- Multiscale Bioimaging of Excitable Cells, Cluster of ExcellenceGöttingenGermany
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31
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Karagulyan N, Moser T. Synaptic activity is not required for establishing heterogeneity of inner hair cell ribbon synapses. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1248941. [PMID: 37745283 PMCID: PMC10512025 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1248941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural sound encoding in the mammalian cochlea faces the challenge of representing audible sound pressures that vary over six orders of magnitude. The cochlea meets this demand through the use of active micromechanics as well as the diversity and adaptation of afferent neurons and their synapses. Mechanisms underlying neural diversity likely include heterogeneous presynaptic input from inner hair cells (IHCs) to spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) as well as differences in the molecular profile of SGNs and in their efferent control. Here, we tested whether glutamate release from IHCs, previously found to be critical for maintaining different molecular SGN profiles, is required for establishing heterogeneity of active zones (AZs) in IHCs. We analyzed structural and functional heterogeneity of IHC AZs in mouse mutants with disrupted glutamate release from IHCs due to lack of a vesicular glutamate transporter (Vglut3) or impaired exocytosis due to defective otoferlin. We found the variance of the voltage-dependence of presynaptic Ca2+ influx to be reduced in exocytosis-deficient IHCs of otoferlin mutants. Yet, the spatial gradients of maximal amplitude and voltage-dependence of Ca2+ influx along the pillar-modiolar IHC axis were maintained in both mutants. Further immunohistochemical analysis showed an intact spatial gradient of ribbon size in Vglut3-/- mice. These results indicate that IHC exocytosis and glutamate release are not strictly required for establishing the heterogeneity of IHC AZs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nare Karagulyan
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Nanophysiology Group, Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Collaborative Research Center 889, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Hertha Sponer College, Multiscale Bioimaging Cluster of Excellence (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Moser
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Nanophysiology Group, Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Collaborative Research Center 889, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Multiscale Bioimaging Cluster of Excellence (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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Zhang D, Ren M, Bi Z, Gu Y, Li S, Wang G, Li X, Liu Z. Lypd1-DTR/+: A New Mouse Model for Specifically Damaging the Type Ic Spiral Ganglion Neurons of the Cochlea. Neurosci Bull 2023; 39:1459-1462. [PMID: 37222854 PMCID: PMC10465461 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01071-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Di Zhang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Minhui Ren
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - ZhengHong Bi
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Yunpeng Gu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shuting Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Guangqin Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai, 201210, China.
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Laureano A, Kim J, Martinez E, Kwan KY. Chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 4 in cell fate decisions. Hear Res 2023; 436:108813. [PMID: 37329862 PMCID: PMC10463912 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2023.108813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Loss of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) in the cochlea causes hearing loss. Understanding the mechanisms of cell fate transition accelerates efforts that employ directed differentiation and lineage conversion to repopulate lost SGNs. Proposed strategies to regenerate SGNs rely on altering cell fate by activating transcriptional regulatory networks, but repressing networks for alternative cell lineages is also essential. Epigenomic changes during cell fate transitions suggest that CHD4 represses gene expression by altering the chromatin status. Despite limited direct investigations, human genetic studies implicate CHD4 function in the inner ear. The possibility of CHD4 in suppressing alternative cell fates to promote inner ear regeneration is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Laureano
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jihyun Kim
- Department of Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Nelson Labs D250 604 Allison Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; Stem Cell Research Center and Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Edward Martinez
- Department of Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Nelson Labs D250 604 Allison Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; Stem Cell Research Center and Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Kelvin Y Kwan
- Department of Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Nelson Labs D250 604 Allison Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; Stem Cell Research Center and Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
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34
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Tureček R, Melichar A, Králíková M, Hrušková B. The role of GABA B receptors in the subcortical pathways of the mammalian auditory system. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1195038. [PMID: 37635966 PMCID: PMC10456889 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1195038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
GABAB receptors are G-protein coupled receptors for the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. Functional GABAB receptors are formed as heteromers of GABAB1 and GABAB2 subunits, which further associate with various regulatory and signaling proteins to provide receptor complexes with distinct pharmacological and physiological properties. GABAB receptors are widely distributed in nervous tissue, where they are involved in a number of processes and in turn are subject to a number of regulatory mechanisms. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of the cellular distribution and function of the receptors in the inner ear and auditory pathway of the mammalian brainstem and midbrain. The findings suggest that in these regions, GABAB receptors are involved in processes essential for proper auditory function, such as cochlear amplifier modulation, regulation of spontaneous activity, binaural and temporal information processing, and predictive coding. Since impaired GABAergic inhibition has been found to be associated with various forms of hearing loss, GABAB dysfunction could also play a role in some pathologies of the auditory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rostislav Tureček
- Department of Auditory Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czechia
| | - Adolf Melichar
- Department of Auditory Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czechia
- Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Michaela Králíková
- Department of Auditory Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czechia
| | - Bohdana Hrušková
- Department of Auditory Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czechia
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35
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Siebald C, Vincent PFY, Bottom RT, Sun S, Reijntjes DOJ, Manca M, Glowatzki E, Müller U. Molecular signatures define subtypes of auditory afferents with distinct peripheral projection patterns and physiological properties. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2217033120. [PMID: 37487063 PMCID: PMC10400978 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2217033120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Type I spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) are the auditory afferents that transmit sound information from cochlear inner hair cells (IHCs) to the brainstem. These afferents consist of physiological subtypes that differ in their spontaneous firing rate (SR), activation threshold, and dynamic range and have been described as low, medium, and high SR fibers. Lately, single-cell RNA sequencing experiments have revealed three molecularly defined type I SGN subtypes. The extent to which physiological type I SGN subtypes correspond to molecularly defined subtypes is unclear. To address this question, we have generated mouse lines expressing CreERT2 in SGN subtypes that allow for a physiological assessment of molecular subtypes. We show that Lypd1-CreERT2 expressing SGNs represent a well-defined group of neurons that preferentially innervate the IHC modiolar side and exhibit a narrow range of low SRs. In contrast, Calb2-CreERT2 expressing SGNs preferentially innervate the IHC pillar side and exhibit a wider range of SRs, thus suggesting that a strict stratification of all SGNs into three molecular subclasses is not obvious, at least not with the CreERT2 tools used here. Genetically marked neuronal subtypes refine their innervation specificity onto IHCs postnatally during the time when activity is required to refine their molecular phenotype. Type I SGNs thus consist of genetically defined subtypes with distinct physiological properties and innervation patterns. The molecular subtype-specific lines characterized here will provide important tools for investigating the role of the physiologically distinct type I SGNs in encoding sound signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Siebald
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Philippe F. Y. Vincent
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Riley T. Bottom
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Shuohao Sun
- National Institute of Biological Science, Beijing102206, China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
| | - Daniel O. J. Reijntjes
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Marco Manca
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Elisabeth Glowatzki
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Ulrich Müller
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD21205
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36
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Sun Y, Liu Z. Recent advances in molecular studies on cochlear development and regeneration. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2023; 81:102745. [PMID: 37356371 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
The auditory organ cochlea harbors two types of sound receptors, inner hair cells (IHCs) and outer hair cells (OHCs), which are innervated by spiral (auditory) ganglion neurons (SGNs). Recent transcriptomic, epigenetic, and genetic studies have started to reveal various aspects of cochlear development, including how prosensory progenitors are specified and diversified into IHCs or OHCs, as well as the heterogeneity among SGNs and how SGN subtypes are formed. Here, we primarily review advances in this line of research over the past five years and discuss a few key studies (from the past two years) to elucidate (1) how prosensory progenitors are specified; (2) the cis-regulatory control of Atoh1 expression and the synergistic interaction between Atoh1 and Pou4f3; and (3) the essential roles of Insm1 and Ikzf2 in OHC development and Tbx2 in IHC development. Moreover, we highlight the contribution of recent molecular studies on cochlear development toward the goal of regenerating IHCs and OHCs, which holds considerable potential for application in treating human deafness. Lastly, we briefly summarize the most recent progress on uncovering when and how SGN diversity is generated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwei Sun
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai, 201210, China.
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37
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Matern MS, Durruthy-Durruthy R, Birol O, Darmanis S, Scheibinger M, Groves AK, Heller S. Transcriptional dynamics of delaminating neuroblasts in the mouse otic vesicle. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112545. [PMID: 37227818 PMCID: PMC10592509 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
An abundance of research has recently highlighted the susceptibility of cochleovestibular ganglion (CVG) neurons to noise damage and aging in the adult cochlea, resulting in hearing deficits. Furthering our understanding of the transcriptional cascades that contribute to CVG development may provide insight into how these cells can be regenerated to treat inner ear dysfunction. Here we perform a high-depth single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of the E10.5 otic vesicle and its surrounding tissues, including CVG precursor neuroblasts and emerging CVG neurons. Clustering and trajectory analysis of otic-lineage cells reveals otic markers and the changes in gene expression that occur from neuroblast delamination toward the development of the CVG. This dataset provides a valuable resource for further identifying the mechanisms associated with CVG development from neurosensory competent cells within the otic vesicle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie S Matern
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Robert Durruthy-Durruthy
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Onur Birol
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Spyros Darmanis
- Departments of Bioengineering and Applied Physics and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Mirko Scheibinger
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Andrew K Groves
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Stefan Heller
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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38
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Nisenbaum E, Yan D, Shearer AE, de Joya E, Thielhelm T, Russell N, Staecker H, Chen Z, Holt JR, Liu X. Genotype-Phenotype Correlations in TMPRSS3 (DFNB10/DFNB8) with Emphasis on Natural History. Audiol Neurootol 2023; 28:407-419. [PMID: 37331337 PMCID: PMC10857012 DOI: 10.1159/000528766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mutations in TMPRSS3 are an important cause of autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss. The hearing loss associated with mutations in TMPRSS3 is characterized by phenotypic heterogeneity, ranging from mild to profound hearing loss, and is generally progressive. Clinical presentation and natural history of TMPRSS3 mutations vary significantly based on the location and type of mutation in the gene. Understanding these genotype-phenotype relationships and associated natural disease histories is necessary for the successful development and application of gene-based therapies and precision medicine approaches to DFNB8/10. The heterogeneous presentation of TMPRSS3-associated disease makes it difficult to identify patients clinically. As the body of literature on TMPRSS3-associated deafness grows, there is need for better categorization of the hearing phenotypes associated with specific mutations in the gene. SUMMARY In this review, we summarize TMPRSS3 genotype-phenotype relationships including a thorough description of the natural history of patients with TMPRSS3-associated hearing loss to lay the groundwork for the future of TMPRSS3 treatment using molecular therapy. KEY MESSAGES TMPRSS3 mutation is a significant cause of genetic hearing loss. All patients with TMPRSS3 mutation display severe-to-profound prelingual (DFNB10) or a postlingual (DFNB8) progressive sensorineural hearing loss. Importantly, TMPRSS3 mutations have not been associated with middle ear or vestibular deficits. The c.916G>A (p.Ala306Thr) missense mutation is the most frequently reported mutation across populations and should be further explored as a target for molecular therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Nisenbaum
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA,
| | - Denise Yan
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - A Eliot Shearer
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Evan de Joya
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics and John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Torin Thielhelm
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Nicole Russell
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hinrich Staecker
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Kansas Health System, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Zhengyi Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School and Eaton Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Holt
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Xuezhong Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics and John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School and Eaton Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
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39
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Boussaty EC, Tedeschi N, Novotny M, Ninoyu Y, Du E, Draf C, Zhang Y, Manor U, Scheuermann RH, Friedman R. Cochlear transcriptome analysis of an outbred mouse population (CFW). BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.15.528661. [PMID: 36824745 PMCID: PMC9948975 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.15.528661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is the most common cause of hearing loss and one of the most prevalent conditions affecting the elderly worldwide. Despite evidence from our lab and others about its polygenic nature, little is known about the specific genes, cell types and pathways involved in ARHL, impeding the development of therapeutic interventions. In this manuscript, we describe, for the first time, the complete cell-type specific transcriptome of the aging mouse cochlea using snRNA-seq in an outbred mouse model in relation to auditory threshold variation. Cochlear cell types were identified using unsupervised clustering and annotated via a three-tiered approach - first by linking to expression of known marker genes, then using the NS-Forest algorithm to select minimum cluster-specific marker genes and reduce dimensional feature space for statistical comparison of our clusters with existing publicly-available data sets on the gEAR website (https://umgear.org/), and finally, by validating and refining the annotations using Multiplexed Error Robust Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (MERFISH) and the cluster-specific marker genes as probes. We report on 60 unique cell-types expanding the number of defined cochlear cell types by more than two times. Importantly, we show significant specific cell type increases and decreases associated with loss of hearing acuity implicating specific subsets of hair cell subtypes, ganglion cell subtypes, and cell subtypes withing the stria vascularis in this model of ARHL. These results provide a view into the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for age-related hearing loss and pathways for therapeutic targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yuzuru Ninoyu
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, CA
| | - Eric Du
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, CA
| | - Clara Draf
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, CA
| | - Yun Zhang
- J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA
| | - Uri Manor
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Center, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Richard H. Scheuermann
- J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, CA
| | - Rick Friedman
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, CA
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40
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Spirou GA, Kersting M, Carr S, Razzaq B, Yamamoto Alves Pinto C, Dawson M, Ellisman MH, Manis PB. High-resolution volumetric imaging constrains compartmental models to explore synaptic integration and temporal processing by cochlear nucleus globular bushy cells. eLife 2023; 12:e83393. [PMID: 37288824 PMCID: PMC10435236 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Globular bushy cells (GBCs) of the cochlear nucleus play central roles in the temporal processing of sound. Despite investigation over many decades, fundamental questions remain about their dendrite structure, afferent innervation, and integration of synaptic inputs. Here, we use volume electron microscopy (EM) of the mouse cochlear nucleus to construct synaptic maps that precisely specify convergence ratios and synaptic weights for auditory nerve innervation and accurate surface areas of all postsynaptic compartments. Detailed biophysically based compartmental models can help develop hypotheses regarding how GBCs integrate inputs to yield their recorded responses to sound. We established a pipeline to export a precise reconstruction of auditory nerve axons and their endbulb terminals together with high-resolution dendrite, soma, and axon reconstructions into biophysically detailed compartmental models that could be activated by a standard cochlear transduction model. With these constraints, the models predict auditory nerve input profiles whereby all endbulbs onto a GBC are subthreshold (coincidence detection mode), or one or two inputs are suprathreshold (mixed mode). The models also predict the relative importance of dendrite geometry, soma size, and axon initial segment length in setting action potential threshold and generating heterogeneity in sound-evoked responses, and thereby propose mechanisms by which GBCs may homeostatically adjust their excitability. Volume EM also reveals new dendritic structures and dendrites that lack innervation. This framework defines a pathway from subcellular morphology to synaptic connectivity, and facilitates investigation into the roles of specific cellular features in sound encoding. We also clarify the need for new experimental measurements to provide missing cellular parameters, and predict responses to sound for further in vivo studies, thereby serving as a template for investigation of other neuron classes.
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Affiliation(s)
- George A Spirou
- Department of Medical Engineering, University of South FloridaTampaUnited States
| | - Matthew Kersting
- Department of Medical Engineering, University of South FloridaTampaUnited States
| | - Sean Carr
- Department of Medical Engineering, University of South FloridaTampaUnited States
| | - Bayan Razzaq
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, West Virginia UniversityMorgantownUnited States
| | | | - Mariah Dawson
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, West Virginia UniversityMorgantownUnited States
| | - Mark H Ellisman
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San DiegoSan DiegoUnited States
- National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research,University of California, San DiegoSan DiegoUnited States
| | - Paul B Manis
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillUnited States
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North CarolinaChapel HillUnited States
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41
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Kersbergen CJ, Babola TA, Kanold PO, Bergles DE. Preservation of developmental spontaneous activity enables early auditory system maturation in deaf mice. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002160. [PMID: 37368868 PMCID: PMC10298803 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically generated neural activity propagates through the developing auditory system to promote maturation and refinement of sound processing circuits prior to hearing onset. This early patterned activity is induced by non-sensory supporting cells in the organ of Corti, which are highly interconnected through gap junctions containing connexin 26 (Gjb2). Although loss of function mutations in Gjb2 impair cochlear development and are the most common cause of congenital deafness, it is not known if these variants disrupt spontaneous activity and the developmental trajectory of sound processing circuits in the brain. Here, we show in a new mouse model of Gjb2-mediated congenital deafness that cochlear supporting cells adjacent to inner hair cells (IHCs) unexpectedly retain intercellular coupling and the capacity to generate spontaneous activity, exhibiting only modest deficits prior to hearing onset. Supporting cells lacking Gjb2 elicited coordinated activation of IHCs, leading to coincident bursts of activity in central auditory neurons that will later process similar frequencies of sound. Despite alterations in the structure of the sensory epithelium, hair cells within the cochlea of Gjb2-deficient mice were intact and central auditory neurons could be activated within appropriate tonotopic domains by loud sounds at hearing onset, indicating that early maturation and refinement of auditory circuits was preserved. Only after cessation of spontaneous activity following hearing onset did progressive hair cell degeneration and enhanced auditory neuron excitability manifest. This preservation of cochlear spontaneous neural activity in the absence of connexin 26 may increase the effectiveness of early therapeutic interventions to restore hearing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calvin J. Kersbergen
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Travis A. Babola
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Patrick O. Kanold
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Dwight E. Bergles
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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42
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Liu H, Liu H, Wang L, Song L, Jiang G, Lu Q, Yang T, Peng H, Cai R, Zhao X, Zhao T, Wu H. Cochlear transcript diversity and its role in auditory functions implied by an otoferlin short isoform. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3085. [PMID: 37248244 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38621-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Isoforms of a gene may contribute to diverse biological functions. In the cochlea, the repertoire of alternative isoforms remains unexplored. We integrated single-cell short-read and long-read RNA sequencing techniques and identified 236,012 transcripts, 126,612 of which were unannotated in the GENCODE database. Then we analyzed and verified the unannotated transcripts using RNA-seq, RT-PCR, Sanger sequencing, and MS-based proteomics approaches. To illustrate the importance of identifying spliced isoforms, we investigated otoferlin, a key protein involved in synaptic transmission in inner hair cells (IHCs). Upon deletion of the canonical otoferlin isoform, the identified short isoform is able to support normal hearing thresholds but with reduced sustained exocytosis of IHCs, and further revealed otoferlin functions in endocytic membrane retrieval that was not well-addressed previously. Furthermore, we found that otoferlin isoforms are associated with IHC functions and auditory phenotypes. This work expands our mechanistic understanding of auditory functions at the level of isoform resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huihui Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Hongchao Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Longhao Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Lei Song
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Guixian Jiang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Qing Lu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Tao Yang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Hu Peng
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Ruijie Cai
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Xingle Zhao
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Ting Zhao
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, Shanghai, 200011, China.
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43
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Yu X, Wang Y. Peripheral Fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein is required for the timely closure of a critical period for neuronal susceptibility in the ventral cochlear nucleus. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1186630. [PMID: 37305436 PMCID: PMC10248243 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1186630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations in neuronal plasticity and critical periods are common across neurodevelopmental diseases, including Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the leading single-gene cause of autism. Characterized with sensory dysfunction, FXS is the result of gene silencing of Fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein 1 (FMR1) and loss of its product, Fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein (FMRP). The mechanisms underlying altered critical period and sensory dysfunction in FXS are obscure. Here, we performed genetic and surgical deprivation of peripheral auditory inputs in wildtype and Fmr1 knockout (KO) mice across ages and investigated the effects of global FMRP loss on deafferentation-induced neuronal changes in the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) and auditory brainstem responses. The degree of neuronal cell loss during the critical period was unchanged in Fmr1 KO mice. However, the closure of the critical period was delayed. Importantly, this delay was temporally coincidental with reduced hearing sensitivity, implying an association with sensory inputs. Functional analyses further identified early-onset and long-lasting alterations in signal transmission from the spiral ganglion to the VCN, suggesting a peripheral site of FMRP action. Finally, we generated conditional Fmr1 KO (cKO) mice with selective deletion of FMRP in spiral ganglion but not VCN neurons. cKO mice recapitulated the delay in the VCN critical period closure in Fmr1 KO mice, confirming an involvement of cochlear FMRP in shaping the temporal features of neuronal critical periods in the brain. Together, these results identify a novel peripheral mechanism of neurodevelopmental pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuan Wang
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, United States
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44
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Ma Q, Zhang J, Qi W, Li Z, Jiang Y, Zhang M, He H, Su K, Shi H. Store-Operated Ca 2+ Channels Contribute to the Generation of Ca 2+ Waves in Interdental Cells in the Cochleae. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:1896-1904. [PMID: 37146126 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cochlear calcium (Ca2+) waves are vital regulators of the cochlear development and establishment of hearing function. Inner supporting cells are believed to be the main region generating Ca2+ waves that work as internal stimuli to coordinate the development of hair cells and the mapping of neurons in the cochlea. However, Ca2+ waves in interdental cells (IDCs) that connect to inner supporting cells and spiral ganglion neurons are rarely observed and poorly understood. Herein, we reported the mechanism of IDC Ca2+ wave formation and propagation by developing a single-cell Ca2+ excitation technology, which can easily be accomplished using a two-photon microscope for simultaneous microscopy and femtosecond laser Ca2+ excitation in any target individual cell in fresh cochlear tissues. We demonstrated that the store-operated Ca2+ channels in IDCs are responsible for Ca2+ wave formation in these cells. The specific architecture of the IDCs determines the propagation of Ca2+ waves. Our results provide the mechanism of Ca2+ formation in IDCs and a controllable, precise, and noninvasive technology to excite local Ca2+ waves in the cochlea, with good potential for research on cochlear Ca2+ and hearing functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Ma
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Jianning Zhang
- Yueyang Hospital of Integrative Chinese & Western Medicine Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China
| | - Weidong Qi
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Huashan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Zhuangzhuang Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Yumeng Jiang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Hao He
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200233, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Kaiming Su
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200233, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Sleep Disordered Breathing, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Haibo Shi
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200233, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Sleep Disordered Breathing, Shanghai 200233, China
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45
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Li S, He S, Lu Y, Jia S, Liu Z. Epistatic genetic interactions between Insm1 and Ikzf2 during cochlear outer hair cell development. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112504. [PMID: 37171961 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The cochlea harbors two types of sound receptors, outer hair cells (OHCs) and inner hair cells (IHCs). OHCs transdifferentiate into IHCs in Insm1 mutants, and OHCs in Ikzf2-deficient mice are dysfunctional and maintain partial IHC gene expression. Insm1 potentially acts as a positive but indirect regulator of Ikzf2, considering that Insm1 is expressed earlier than Ikzf2 and primarily functions as a transcriptional repressor. However, direct evidence of this possibility is lacking. Here, we report the following results: first, Insm1 overexpression in IHCs leads to ectopic Ikzf2 expression. Second, Ikzf2 expression is repressed in Insm1-deficient OHCs, and forced expression of Ikzf2 mitigates the OHC abnormality in Insm1 mutants. Last, dual ablation of Insm1 and Ikzf2 generates a similar OHC phenotype as does Insm1 ablation alone. Collectively, our findings reveal the transcriptional cascade from Insm1 to Ikzf2, which should facilitate future investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying OHC development and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuting Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shunji He
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Ying Lu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Shiqi Jia
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 201210, China.
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46
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Kaczmarek LK. Modulation of potassium conductances optimizes fidelity of auditory information. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2216440120. [PMID: 36930599 PMCID: PMC10041146 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2216440120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Potassium channels in auditory neurons are rapidly modified by changes in the auditory environment. In response to elevated auditory stimulation, short-term mechanisms such as protein phosphorylation and longer-term mechanisms such as accelerated channel synthesis increase the amplitude of currents that promote high-frequency firing. It has been suggested that this allows neurons to fire at high rates in response to high sound levels. We have carried out simple simulations of the response to postsynaptic neurons to patterns of neurotransmitter release triggered by auditory stimuli. These demonstrate that the amplitudes of potassium currents required for optimal encoding of a low-amplitude auditory signal differ from those for louder sounds. Specifically, the cross-correlation of the output of a neuron with an auditory stimulus is improved by increasing potassium currents as sound amplitude increases. Temporal fidelity for low-frequency stimuli is improved by increasing potassium currents that activate at negative potentials, while that for high-frequency stimuli requires increases in currents that activate at positive membrane potentials. These effects are independent of the firing rate. Moreover, levels of potassium currents that maximize the fidelity of the output of an ensemble of neurons differ from those that maximize fidelity for a single neuron. This suggests that the modulatory mechanisms must coordinate channel activity in groups of neurons or an entire nucleus. The simulations provide an explanation for the modulation of the intrinsic excitability of auditory brainstem neurons by changes in environmental sound levels, and the results may extend to information processing in other neural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard K. Kaczmarek
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06520
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47
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Frank MM, Sitko AA, Suthakar K, Torres Cadenas L, Hunt M, Yuk MC, Weisz CJC, Goodrich LV. Experience-dependent flexibility in a molecularly diverse central-to-peripheral auditory feedback system. eLife 2023; 12:e83855. [PMID: 36876911 PMCID: PMC10147377 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Brainstem olivocochlear neurons (OCNs) modulate the earliest stages of auditory processing through feedback projections to the cochlea and have been shown to influence hearing and protect the ear from sound-induced damage. Here, we used single-nucleus sequencing, anatomical reconstructions, and electrophysiology to characterize murine OCNs during postnatal development, in mature animals, and after sound exposure. We identified markers for known medial (MOC) and lateral (LOC) OCN subtypes, and show that they express distinct cohorts of physiologically relevant genes that change over development. In addition, we discovered a neuropeptide-enriched LOC subtype that produces Neuropeptide Y along with other neurotransmitters. Throughout the cochlea, both LOC subtypes extend arborizations over wide frequency domains. Moreover, LOC neuropeptide expression is strongly upregulated days after acoustic trauma, potentially providing a sustained protective signal to the cochlea. OCNs are therefore poised to have diffuse, dynamic effects on early auditory processing over timescales ranging from milliseconds to days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle M Frank
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Austen A Sitko
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Kirupa Suthakar
- Section on Neuronal Circuitry, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication DisordersBethesdaUnited States
| | - Lester Torres Cadenas
- Section on Neuronal Circuitry, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication DisordersBethesdaUnited States
| | - Mackenzie Hunt
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Mary Caroline Yuk
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Catherine JC Weisz
- Section on Neuronal Circuitry, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication DisordersBethesdaUnited States
| | - Lisa V Goodrich
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
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48
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Serum/glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 deficiency induces NLRP3 inflammasome activation and autoinflammation of macrophages in a murine endolymphatic hydrops model. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1249. [PMID: 36872329 PMCID: PMC9986248 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36949-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ménière's disease, a multifactorial disorder of the inner ear, is characterized by severe vertigo episodes and hearing loss. Although the role of immune responses in Ménière's disease has been proposed, the precise mechanisms remain undefined. Here, we show that downregulation of serum/glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 is associated with activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in vestibular-resident macrophage-like cells from Ménière's disease patients. Serum/glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 depletion markedly enhances IL-1β production which leads to the damage of inner ear hair cells and vestibular nerve. Mechanistically, serum/glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 binds to the PYD domain of NLRP3 and phosphorylates it at Serine 5, thereby interfering inflammasome assembly. Sgk-/- mice show aggravated audiovestibular symptoms and enhanced inflammasome activation in lipopolysaccharide-induced endolymphatic hydrops model, which is ameliorated by blocking NLRP3. Pharmacological inhibition of serum/glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 increases the disease severity in vivo. Our studies demonstrate that serum/glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 functions as a physiologic inhibitor of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and maintains inner ear immune homeostasis, reciprocally participating in models of Ménière's disease pathogenesis.
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49
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Shrestha BR, Wu L, Goodrich LV. Runx1 controls auditory sensory neuron diversity in mice. Dev Cell 2023; 58:306-319.e5. [PMID: 36800995 PMCID: PMC10202259 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Sound stimulus is encoded in mice by three molecularly and physiologically diverse subtypes of sensory neurons, called Ia, Ib, and Ic spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). Here, we show that the transcription factor Runx1 controls SGN subtype composition in the murine cochlea. Runx1 is enriched in Ib/Ic precursors by late embryogenesis. Upon the loss of Runx1 from embryonic SGNs, more SGNs take on Ia rather than Ib or Ic identities. This conversion was more complete for genes linked to neuronal function than to connectivity. Accordingly, synapses in the Ib/Ic location acquired Ia properties. Suprathreshold SGN responses to sound were enhanced in Runx1CKO mice, confirming the expansion of neurons with Ia-like functional properties. Runx1 deletion after birth also redirected Ib/Ic SGNs toward Ia identity, indicating that SGN identities are plastic postnatally. Altogether, these findings show that diverse neuronal identities essential for normal auditory stimulus coding arise hierarchically and remain malleable during postnatal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brikha R Shrestha
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
| | - Lorna Wu
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lisa V Goodrich
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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50
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Mittring A, Moser T, Huet AT. Graded optogenetic activation of the auditory pathway for hearing restoration. Brain Stimul 2023; 16:466-483. [PMID: 36702442 PMCID: PMC10159867 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.01.1671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Optogenetic control of neural activity enables innovative approaches to improve functional restoration of diseased sensory and motor systems. For clinical translation to succeed, optogenetic stimulation needs to closely match the coding properties of the targeted neuronal population and employ optimally operating emitters. This requires the customization of channelrhodopsins, emitters and coding strategies. Here, we provide a framework to parametrize optogenetic neural control and apply it to the auditory pathway that requires high temporal fidelity of stimulation. We used a viral gene transfer of ultrafast targeting-optimized Chronos into spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) of the cochlea of mice. We characterized the light-evoked response by in vivo recordings from individual SGNs and neurons of the anteroventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN) that detect coincident SGN inputs. Our recordings from single SGNs demonstrated that their spike probability can be graded by adjusting the duration of light pulses at constant intensity, which optimally serves efficient laser diode operation. We identified an effective pulse width of 1.6 ms to maximize encoding in SGNs at the maximal light intensity employed here (∼35 mW). Alternatively, SGNs were activated at lower energy thresholds using short light pulses (<1 ms). An upper boundary of optical stimulation rates was identified at 316 Hz, inducing a robust spike rate adaptation that required a few tens of milliseconds to recover. We developed a semi-stochastic stimulation paradigm to rapidly (within minutes) estimate the input/output function from light to SGN firing and approximate the time constant of neuronal integration in the AVCN. By that, our data pave the way to design the sound coding strategies of future optical cochlear implants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur Mittring
- Auditory Circuit Lab, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Moser
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Auditory Neuroscience and Optogenetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany; Auditory Neuroscience and Synaptic Nanophysiology Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Antoine Tarquin Huet
- Auditory Circuit Lab, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Auditory Neuroscience and Optogenetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany.
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