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Zeng B, Xu H, Yu Y, Li S, Tian Y, Li T, Yang Z, Wang H, Wang G, Chang M, Tang W. Increased diagnostic yield in a cohort of hearing loss families using a comprehensive stepwise strategy of molecular testing. Front Genet 2022; 13:1057293. [PMID: 36568381 PMCID: PMC9768221 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1057293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hearing loss is one of the most common sensory disorders in humans. This study proposes a stepwise strategy of deafness gene detection using multiplex PCR combined with high-throughput sequencing, Sanger sequencing, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), and whole-exome sequencing (WES) to explore its application in molecular diagnosis of hearing loss families. A total of 152 families with hearing loss were included in this study, the highest overall diagnosis rate was 73% (111/152). The diagnosis rate of multiplex PCR combined with high-throughput sequencing was 52.6% (80/152). One families was diagnosed by Sanger sequencing of GJB2 exon 1. Two families were diagnosed by MLPA analysis of the STRC gene. The diagnosis rate with additional contribution from WES was 18.4% (28/152). We identified 21 novel variants from 15 deafness genes by WES. Combining WES and deep clinical phenotyping, we diagnosed 11 patients with syndromic hearing loss (SHL). This study demonstrated improved diagnostic yield in a cohort of hearing loss families and confirmed the advantages of a stepwise strategy in the molecular diagnosis of hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beiping Zeng
- BGI College and Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China,National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, Henan Key Laboratory of Population Defects Prevention, Henan Institute of Reproduction Health Science and Technology, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hongen Xu
- Precision Medicine Center, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China,The Research and Application Center of Precision Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yanan Yu
- Precision Medicine Center, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Siqi Li
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yongan Tian
- Precision Medicine Center, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Tiandong Li
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zengguang Yang
- Precision Medicine Center, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Haili Wang
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, Henan Key Laboratory of Population Defects Prevention, Henan Institute of Reproduction Health Science and Technology, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Guangke Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Mingxiu Chang
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, Henan Key Laboratory of Population Defects Prevention, Henan Institute of Reproduction Health Science and Technology, Zhengzhou, China,*Correspondence: Mingxiu Chang, ; Wenxue Tang,
| | - Wenxue Tang
- The Research and Application Center of Precision Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China,*Correspondence: Mingxiu Chang, ; Wenxue Tang,
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Farnoosh G, Mahmoudian-Sani MR. Effects of Growth Factors and the MicroRNA-183 Family on Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Towards Auditory Neuron-Like Cells. Stem Cells Cloning 2020; 13:79-89. [PMID: 32982315 PMCID: PMC7490102 DOI: 10.2147/sccaa.s248526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Hearing Loss (HL) is known as the most common sensory processing disorder across the world. An effective treatment which has been currently used for patients suffering from this condition is cochlear implant (CI). The major limitation of this treatment is the need for a healthy auditory neuron (AN). Accordingly, mesenchymal cells (MCs) are regarded as good candidates for cell-based therapeutic approaches. The present study aimed to investigate the potentials of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) for differentiation towards ANs along with using treatments with growth factors and microRNA (miRNA) transfection in vitro. Methods To this end, neurospheres derived from hBM-MSCs were treated via basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as growth factors N2 and B27 supplements, as well as miRNA-96, -182, -183 transfected into hBM-MSCs in order to evaluate the differentiation of such cells into ANs. Results Treatments with growth factors demonstrated a significant increase in neurogenin 1 (Ngn1) and sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) markers; but tubulin, microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2), and GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) markers were not statistically significant. The findings also revealed that miRNA-182 expression in miRNA-183 family could boost the expressions of some AN marker (ie, Ngn1, SOX2, peripherin, and nestin) in vitro. Discussion It can be concluded that miRNA is probably a good substitute for growth factors used in differentiating into ANs. Transdifferentiation of hBM-MSCs into ANs, which does not occur under normal conditions, may be thus facilitated by miRNAs, especially miRNA-182, or via a combination of miRNA and growth factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gholamreza Farnoosh
- Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Reza Mahmoudian-Sani
- Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathy Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
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Abstract
Disabling hearing loss is the most common sensorineural disability worldwide. It affects around 466 million people and its incidence is expected to rise to around 900 million people by 2050, according to World Health Organization estimates. Most cases of hearing impairment are due to the degeneration of hair cells (HCs) in the cochlea, mechano-receptors that transduce incoming sound information into electrical signals that are sent to the brain. Damage to these cells is mainly caused by exposure to aminoglycoside antibiotics and to some anti-cancer drugs such as cisplatin, loud sounds, age, infections and genetic mutations. Hearing deficits may also result from damage to the spiral ganglion neurons that innervate cochlear HCs. Differently from what is observed in avian and non-mammalian species, there is no regeneration of missing sensory cell types in the adult mammalian cochlea, what makes hearing loss an irreversible process. This review summarizes the research that has been conducted with the aim of developing cell-based strategies that lead to sensory cell replacement in the adult cochlea and, ultimately, to hearing restoration. Two main lines of research are discussed, one directed toward the transplantation of exogenous replacement cells into the damaged tissue, and another that aims at reactivating the regenerative potential of putative progenitor cells in the adult inner ear. Results from some of the studies that have been conducted are presented and the advantages and drawbacks of the various approaches discussed.
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Duran Alonso MB, Lopez Hernandez I, de la Fuente MA, Garcia-Sancho J, Giraldez F, Schimmang T. Transcription factor induced conversion of human fibroblasts towards the hair cell lineage. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200210. [PMID: 29979748 PMCID: PMC6034836 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Hearing loss is the most common sensorineural disorder, affecting over 5% of the population worldwide. Its most frequent cause is the loss of hair cells (HCs), the mechanosensory receptors of the cochlea. HCs transduce incoming sounds into electrical signals that activate auditory neurons, which in turn send this information to the brain. Although some spontaneous HC regeneration has been observed in neonatal mammals, the very small pool of putative progenitor cells that have been identified in the adult mammalian cochlea is not able to replace the damaged HCs, making any hearing impairment permanent. To date, guided differentiation of human cells to HC-like cells has only been achieved using either embryonic stem cells (ESCs) or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). However, use of such cell types suffers from a number of important disadvantages, such as the risk of tumourigenicity if transplanted into the host´s tissue. We have obtained cells expressing hair cell markers from cultures of human fibroblasts by overexpression of GFI1, Pou4f3 and ATOH1 (GPA), three genes that are known to play a critical role in the development of HCs. Immunocytochemical, qPCR and RNAseq analyses demonstrate the expression of genes typically expressed by HCs in the transdifferentiated cells. Our protocol represents a much faster approach than the methods applied to ESCs and iPSCs and validates the combination of GPA as a set of genes whose activation leads to the direct conversion of human somatic cells towards the hair cell lineage. Our observations are expected to contribute to the development of future therapies aimed at the regeneration of the auditory organ and the restoration of hearing.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Beatriz Duran Alonso
- Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, Universidad de Valladolid y Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/Sanz y Forés 3, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Iris Lopez Hernandez
- Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, Universidad de Valladolid y Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/Sanz y Forés 3, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Miguel Angel de la Fuente
- Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, Universidad de Valladolid y Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/Sanz y Forés 3, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Javier Garcia-Sancho
- Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, Universidad de Valladolid y Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/Sanz y Forés 3, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Fernando Giraldez
- CEXS, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Parc de Recerca Biomédica de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Thomas Schimmang
- Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, Universidad de Valladolid y Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/Sanz y Forés 3, Valladolid, Spain
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Zhong C, Jiang Z, Guo Q, Zhang X. Protective effect of adenovirus-mediated erythropoietin expression on the spiral ganglion neurons in the rat inner ear. Int J Mol Med 2018; 41:2669-2677. [PMID: 29436578 PMCID: PMC5846647 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2018.3455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of erythropoietin (Epo) and the Epo receptor (Epo-R) in the spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) of the rat inner ear, and to assess the effect of Epo adenovirus vector (Ad-Epo) on the spontaneous apoptosis of SGNs. A total of 60 ears from 30 healthy neonatal (2-3 days postnatal) Sprague-Dawley rats were used to examine the expression of Epo in the SGNs. The rats were divided into three groups: The negative control group, the vector control group [infected with a green fluorescent protein expression vector (Ad-GFP)] and the Ad-Epo group (infected with Ad-Epo). The expression of Epo and Epo-R was detected by immunohistochemistry and dual immunofluorescence staining using polyclonal antibodies directed against Epo and Epo-R, followed by confocal laser-scanning microscopy. An adenovirus vector was constructed and used to transfect the cultured SGNs. Following adenovirus infection, apoptosis of the SGNs was evaluated and Epo protein expression was assessed. Epo and Epo-R were widely expressed in the plasma membrane and the cytoplasm of the SGNs, as well as in the organ of Corti and the stria vascularis within the inner ear. Epo protein expression was upregulated in the Ad-Epo group compared with that in the other two groups (P<0.05). Apoptotic cells were seldom observed at day 4 of SGN culture in the negative control group. At day 7, marked apoptotic cells were detected in the negative control group and the vector control group. The apoptosis level in the Ad-Epo group was significantly decreased compared with that in the negative control group or the vector control group at day 7 (P<0.05). In conclusion, Epo and Epo-R are expressed in the SGNs of the inner ear of the rat, and Ad-Epo can decrease the spontaneous apoptosis of SGNs, which may provide a basis for the prevention or alleviation of sensorineural hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhong
- Department of Otolaryngology, Southwest Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Zhendong Jiang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Southwest Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Qiang Guo
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
| | - Xueyuan Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Southwest Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, P.R. China
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Ramamurthy P, White JB, Yull Park J, Hume RI, Ebisu F, Mendez F, Takayama S, Barald KF. Concomitant differentiation of a population of mouse embryonic stem cells into neuron-like cells and schwann cell-like cells in a slow-flow microfluidic device. Dev Dyn 2017; 246:7-27. [PMID: 27761977 PMCID: PMC5159187 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Revised: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To send meaningful information to the brain, an inner ear cochlear implant (CI) must become closely coupled to as large and healthy a population of remaining spiral ganglion neurons (SGN) as possible. Inner ear gangliogenesis depends on macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a directionally attractant neurotrophic cytokine made by both Schwann and supporting cells (Bank et al., 2012). MIF-induced mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC)-derived "neurons" could potentially substitute for lost or damaged SGN. mESC-derived "Schwann cells" produce MIF, as do all Schwann cells (Huang et al., a; Roth et al., 2007; Roth et al., 2008) and could attract SGN to a "cell-coated" implant. RESULTS Neuron- and Schwann cell-like cells were produced from a common population of mESCs in an ultra-slow-flow microfluidic device. As the populations interacted, "neurons" grew over the "Schwann cell" lawn, and early events in myelination were documented. Blocking MIF on the Schwann cell side greatly reduced directional neurite outgrowth. MIF-expressing "Schwann cells" were used to coat a CI: Mouse SGN and MIF-induced "neurons" grew directionally to the CI and to a wild-type but not MIF-knockout organ of Corti explant. CONCLUSIONS Two novel stem cell-based approaches for treating the problem of sensorineural hearing loss are described. Developmental Dynamics 246:7-27, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poornapriya Ramamurthy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Joshua B White
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Joong Yull Park
- School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Richard I Hume
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Fumi Ebisu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Flor Mendez
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Shuichi Takayama
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Kate F Barald
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Barboza LCM, Lezirovitz K, Zanatta DB, Strauss BE, Mingroni-Netto RC, Oiticica J, Haddad LA, Bento RF. Transplantation and survival of mouse inner ear progenitor/stem cells in the organ of Corti after cochleostomy of hearing-impaired guinea pigs: preliminary results. Braz J Med Biol Res 2016; 49:e5064. [PMID: 27007652 PMCID: PMC4819408 DOI: 10.1590/1414-431x20155064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, damage to sensory receptor cells (hair cells) of the inner ear results in permanent sensorineural hearing loss. Here, we investigated whether postnatal mouse inner ear progenitor/stem cells (mIESCs) are viable after transplantation into the basal turns of neomycin-injured guinea pig cochleas. We also examined the effects of mIESC transplantation on auditory functions. Eight adult female Cavia porcellus guinea pigs (250-350g) were deafened by intratympanic neomycin delivery. After 7 days, the animals were randomly divided in two groups. The study group (n=4) received transplantation of LacZ-positive mIESCs in culture medium into the scala tympani. The control group (n=4) received culture medium only. At 2 weeks after transplantation, functional analyses were performed by auditory brainstem response measurement, and the animals were sacrificed. The presence of mIESCs was evaluated by immunohistochemistry of sections of the cochlea from the study group. Non-parametric tests were used for statistical analysis of the data. Intratympanic neomycin delivery damaged hair cells and increased auditory thresholds prior to cell transplantation. There were no significant differences between auditory brainstem thresholds before and after transplantation in individual guinea pigs. Some mIESCs were observed in all scalae of the basal turns of the injured cochleas, and a proportion of these cells expressed the hair cell marker myosin VIIa. Some transplanted mIESCs engrafted in the cochlear basilar membrane. Our study demonstrates that transplanted cells survived and engrafted in the organ of Corti after cochleostomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- L C M Barboza
- Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia (LIM32), Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - K Lezirovitz
- Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia (LIM32), Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - D B Zanatta
- Setor de Vetores Virais, Laboratório de Genética e Cardiologia Molecular, Instituto do Coração, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - B E Strauss
- Setor de Vetores Virais, Laboratório de Genética e Cardiologia Molecular, Instituto do Coração, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - R C Mingroni-Netto
- Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - J Oiticica
- Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia (LIM32), Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - L A Haddad
- Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - R F Bento
- Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia (LIM32), Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
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Abstract
Auditory hair cells transduce sound vibrations into membrane potential changes, ultimately leading to changes in neuronal firing and sound perception. This review provides an overview of the characteristics and repair capabilities of traumatized auditory sensory epithelium in the adult vertebrate ear. Injured mammalian auditory epithelium repairs itself by forming permanent scars but is unable to regenerate replacement hair cells. In contrast, injured non-mammalian vertebrate ear generates replacement hair cells to restore hearing functions. Non-sensory support cells within the auditory epithelium play key roles in the repair processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth C Oesterle
- Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, CHDD CD176, Box 357923, Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7923, USA.
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Lentz JJ, Jodelka FM, Hinrich AJ, McCaffrey KE, Farris HE, Spalitta MJ, Bazan NG, Duelli DM, Rigo F, Hastings ML. Rescue of hearing and vestibular function by antisense oligonucleotides in a mouse model of human deafness. Nat Med 2013; 19:345-50. [PMID: 23380860 DOI: 10.1038/nm.3106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Hearing impairment is the most common sensory disorder, with congenital hearing impairment present in approximately 1 in 1,000 newborns. Hereditary deafness is often mediated by the improper development or degeneration of cochlear hair cells. Until now, it was not known whether such congenital failures could be mitigated by therapeutic intervention. Here we show that hearing and vestibular function can be rescued in a mouse model of human hereditary deafness. An antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) was used to correct defective pre-mRNA splicing of transcripts from the USH1C gene with the c.216G>A mutation, which causes human Usher syndrome, the leading genetic cause of combined deafness and blindness. Treatment of neonatal mice with a single systemic dose of ASO partially corrects Ush1c c.216G>A splicing, increases protein expression, improves stereocilia organization in the cochlea, and rescues cochlear hair cells, vestibular function and low-frequency hearing in mice. These effects were sustained for several months, providing evidence that congenital deafness can be effectively overcome by treatment early in development to correct gene expression and demonstrating the therapeutic potential of ASOs in the treatment of deafness.
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Lentz JJ, Jodelka FM, Hinrich AJ, McCaffrey KE, Farris HE, Spalitta MJ, Bazan NG, Duelli DM, Rigo F, Hastings ML. Rescue of hearing and vestibular function by antisense oligonucleotides in a mouse model of human deafness. Nat Med 2013; 19:345-50. [PMID: 23380860 PMCID: PMC3657744 DOI: 10.1038/nm.3106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2012] [Accepted: 01/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Hearing impairment is the most common sensory disorder, with congenital hearing
impairment present in ~1 in 1000 newborns1,
and yet there is no cellular cure for deafness. Hereditary deafness is often mediated by the
developmental failure or degeneration of cochlear hair cells2. Until now, it was not known whether such congenital failures could be mitigated by
therapeutic intervention3-5. Here we show that hearing and vestibular function can be rescued in a mouse model
of human hereditary deafness. An antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) was used to correct defective
pre–mRNA splicing of transcripts from the mutated
USH1C.216G>A gene, which causes human Usher syndrome
(Usher), the leading genetic cause of combined deafness and blindness6,7. Treatment of neonatal mice with a
single systemic dose of ASO partially corrects USH1C.216G>A splicing,
increases protein expression, improves stereocilia organization in the cochlea, and rescues cochlear
hair cells, vestibular function and hearing in mice. Our results demonstrate the therapeutic
potential of ASOs in the treatment of deafness and provide evidence that congenital deafness can be
effectively overcome by treatment early in development to correct gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer J Lentz
- Neuroscience Center and Department of Otorhinolaryngology & Biocommunications, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC), New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
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Abstract
Craniofacial disorders present markedly complicated problems in reconstruction because of the complex interactions of the multiple, simultaneously affected tissues. Regenerative medicine holds promise for new strategies to improve treatment of these disorders. This review addresses current areas of unmet need in craniofacial reconstruction and emphasizes how craniofacial tissues differ from their analogs elsewhere in the body. We present a problem-based approach to illustrate current treatment strategies for various craniofacial disorders, to highlight areas of need, and to suggest regenerative strategies for craniofacial bone, fat, muscle, nerve, and skin. For some tissues, current approaches offer excellent reconstructive solutions using autologous tissue or prosthetic materials. Thus, new “regenerative” approaches would need to offer major advantages in order to be adopted. In other tissues, the unmet need is great, and we suggest the greatest regenerative need is for muscle, skin, and nerve. The advent of composite facial tissue transplantation and the development of regenerative medicine are each likely to add important new paradigms to our treatment of craniofacial disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catharine B Garland
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of California San Francisco San Francisco, CA, USA ; Craniofacial and Mesenchymal Biology Program, University of California San Francisco San Francisco, CA, USA
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Abstract
Current treatments for hearing loss, the most common neurosensory disorder, do not restore perfect hearing. Regeneration of lost organ of Corti hair cells through forced cell cycle re-entry of supporting cells or through manipulation of stem cells, both avenues towards a permanent cure, require a more complete understanding of normal inner ear development, specifically the balance of proliferation and differentiation required to form and to maintain hair cells. Direct successful alterations to the cell cycle result in cell death whereas regulation of upstream genes is insufficient to permanently alter cell cycle dynamics. The Myc gene family is uniquely situated to synergize upstream pathways into downstream cell cycle control. There are three Mycs that are embedded within the Myc/Max/Mad network to regulate proliferation. The function of the two ear expressed Mycs, N-Myc and L-Myc were unknown less than two years ago and their therapeutic potentials remain speculative. In this review, we discuss the roles the Mycs play in the body and what led us to choose them to be our candidate gene for inner ear therapies. We will summarize the recently published work describing the early and late effects of N-Myc and L-Myc on hair cell formation and maintenance. Lastly, we detail the translational significance of our findings and what future work must be performed to make the ultimate hearing aid: the regeneration of the organ of Corti.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Kopecky
- Department of Biology, 143 Biology Building, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
| | - Bernd Fritzsch
- Department of Biology, 143 Biology Building, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
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