Cellular and molecular strategies to restore hearing

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Cellular and molecular strategies to restore hearing Azel Zine1*, Etienne Savary1, Jean P. Hugnot1, Christian Chabbert1 and Alain Uziel1 1 University of Montpellier I - Otology and Otoneurology department, CHU Montpellier; 34295 Montpellier, France, Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier, INSERM U583, France Hearing impairment is the most common neurosensory deficit, the most common occupational disease and the third most prevalent chronic disability of mankind following arthritis and heart disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2002, hearing loss and deafness affected at least 250 million people worldwide and that two-thirds of them live in developing countries. The problem of hair cell regeneration in the inner ear is becoming one of the major international neuroscientific challenges in translational research. Development of effective therapeutics for hearing loss has proven to be a slow and difficult process, evidenced by the lack of restorative medicines and technologies currently available to the otolaryngologist. In large part, this is attributable to the limited regenerative potential in cochlear cells and the secondary degeneration of the cochlear architecture that commonly follows sensorineural hearing impairment. Therapeutic advances have been made using animal models, particularly in regeneration and remodelling of spiral ganglion neurons, which retract and die following hair cell loss. Natural regeneration in avian and reptilian systems provides hope that replacement of hair cells is achievable in humans. The most exciting recent advancements in this field have been made in the relatively new areas of stem cell-cellular replacement and gene therapy. In our presentation, we will discuss the current sate of these attempts associated with the developments of emerging strategies in gene- and cell-based therapy for sensorineural hearing loss. We will highlight the strengths and weakness of such therapeutic strategies for inner ear restoration. Conference: 3rd Mediterranean Conference of Neuroscience , Alexandria, Egypt, 13 Dec - 16 Dec, 2009. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Sensory systems Citation: Zine A, Savary E, Hugnot JP, Chabbert C and Uziel A (2009). Cellular and molecular strategies to restore hearing. Front. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: 3rd Mediterranean Conference of Neuroscience . doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.01.2009.16.117 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 23 Nov 2009; Published Online: 23 Nov 2009. * Correspondence: Azel Zine, University of Montpellier I - Otology and Otoneurology department, CHU Montpellier; 34295 Montpellier, France, Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier, INSERM U583, Montpellier, France, azel.zine@umontpellier.fr Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Azel Zine Etienne Savary Jean P Hugnot Christian Chabbert Alain Uziel Google Azel Zine Etienne Savary Jean P Hugnot Christian Chabbert Alain Uziel Google Scholar Azel Zine Etienne Savary Jean P Hugnot Christian Chabbert Alain Uziel PubMed Azel Zine Etienne Savary Jean P Hugnot Christian Chabbert Alain Uziel Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.