Can we regenerate hearing?
Could we one day regenerate damaged hearing?
A new study has identified key gene regulators that enable some deafened animals — including fish and lizards — to naturally regenerate their hearing. The findings could guide future efforts to help patients with hearing loss.
The study by researchers at the University of Southern California focuses on two cell types in the inner ear: the sensory cells that detect sound, and the supporting cells that create an environment where sensory cells can thrive. In regenerative species such as fish and lizards, supporting cells can transform into replacement sensory cells if they’re damaged. This is something that mammals, including humans, can’t do.
The research team revealed a class of DNA control elements known as enhancers. After injury, these produce more of a protein called ATOH1. This, in turn, induces a range of genes required to make inner ear sensory cells. The scientists used a gene editing tool to remove five of these enhancers in zebrafish, impairing the formation of sensory hearing cells during development and their regeneration following injury.
While mammals such as mice possess equivalent enhancers, only regenerative species such as fish and lizards maintain these in their supporting cells into adulthood, thus maintaining their capacity to replace damaged sensory cells.
But in the future, targeted strategies to open up these enhancers in the human inner ear could be used to boost our natural regenerative abilities and reverse deafness.
If you have hearing loss but have yet to find the hearing aids, and the audiologist, that work for you, come and see us at The Hearing Clinic. We take a fully tailored approach to supporting you. We’ll listen to your experiences and work with you to find the best technology and management plan for you. Above all, we’ll help you to adapt to your new technology at your pace. Call or email us today.
