Apparent homozygosity for a novel splicing variant in EPS8 causes congenital profound hearing loss

EPS8 variant causes deafness, autosomal recessive 102 (DFNB102) and literature review

Pathogenic variants in the EPS8 gene result in nonsyndromic hearing loss. This gene encodes the EPS8 protein in cochlear inner hair cells and performs critical roles in stimulating actin polymerization and bundling. Thus far, only four pathogenic variations in EPS8 have been described. In this study, we report the fifth pathogenic variant in the EPS8 gene in an Iranian patient with DFNB102. Furthermore, we review literature cases with EPS8 mutations.

A systematic review of the monogenic causes of Non-Syndromic Hearing Loss (NSHL) and discussion of Current Diagnosis and Treatment options

Hearing impairment is one of the most widespread inheritable sensory disorder affecting at least 1 in every 1000 born. About two-third of hereditary hearing loss (HHL) disorders are non-syndromic. To provide comprehensive update of monogenic causes of non-syndromic hearing loss (NSHL), literature search has been carried out with appropriate keywords in the following databases-PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane library, and Science Direct. Out of 2214 papers, 271 papers were shortlisted after applying inclusion and exclusion criterion. Data extracted from selected papers include information about gene name, identified pathogenic variants, ethnicity of the patient, age of onset, gender, title, authors' name, and year of publication. Overall, pathogenic variants in 98 different genes have been associated with NSHL. These genes have important role to play during early embryonic development in ear structure formation and hearing development. Here, we also review briefly the recent information about diagnosis and treatment approaches. Understanding pathogenic genetic variants are helpful in the management of affected and may offer targeted therapies in future.

AAV-mediated rescue of Eps8 expression in vivo restores hair-cell function in a mouse model of recessive deafness

The transduction of acoustic information by hair cells depends upon mechanosensitive stereociliary bundles that project from their apical surface. Mutations or absence of the stereociliary protein EPS8 cause deafness in humans and mice, respectively. Eps8 knockout mice (Eps8 -/- ) have hair cells with immature stereocilia and fail to become sensory receptors. Here, we show that exogenous delivery of Eps8 using Anc80L65 in P1-P2 Eps8 -/- mice in vivo rescued the hair bundle structure of apical-coil hair cells. Rescued hair bundles correctly localize EPS8, WHIRLIN, MYO15, and BAIAP2L2, and generate normal mechanoelectrical transducer currents. Inner hair cells with normal-looking stereocilia re-expressed adult-like basolateral ion channels (BK and KCNQ4) and have normal exocytosis. The number of hair cells undergoing full recovery was not sufficient to rescue hearing in Eps8 -/- mice. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-transduction of P3 apical-coil and P1-P2 basal-coil hair cells does not rescue hair cells, nor does Anc80L65-Eps8 delivery in adult Eps8 -/- mice. We propose that AAV-induced gene-base therapy is an efficient strategy to recover the complex hair-cell defects in Eps8 -/- mice. However, this therapeutic approach may need to be performed in utero since, at postnatal ages, Eps8 -/- hair cells appear to have matured or accumulated damage beyond the point of repair.