Therapeutic potential of neurotrophins for treatment of hearing loss |
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Authors: | Wei-Qiang Gao |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Neuroscience, Genentech, Inc., MS#72, 1 DNA Way, 94080 South San Francisco, CA |
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Abstract: | Degeneration of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) and hair cells in the cochlea induced by aging, injury, ototoxic drugs, acoustic
trauma, and various diseases is the major cause of hearing loss. Discovery of growth factors that can either prevent SGN and
hair-cell death or stimulate hair-cell regeneration would be of great interest. Studies over the past several years have provided
evidence that specific neurotrophins are potent survival factors for SGNs and protect these neurons from ototoxic drugs in
vitro and in vivo. Current research focuses more on understanding the mechanism of hair-cell regeneration/differentiation
and identification of growth factors that can stimulate hair-cell regeneration. SGNs are required to relay the signal to the
central nervous system even when a cochlear implant is used to replace hair-cell function or in the case that cochlear sensory
epithelium can be stimulated to regenerate new hair cells successfully. Therefore, neurotrophins may have their therapeutic
value in prevention and treatment of hearing impairment. |
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Keywords: | Neurotrophin spiral ganglion neurons auditory ototoxicity hearing impairment hair cells regeneration cochlear implant immortalized cell line |
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