Hair Cells In Mammalian Cochlea Research Articles

High-throughput screening on cochlear organoids identifies VEGFR-MEK-TGFB1 signaling promoting hair cell reprogramming.

SummaryHair cell degeneration is a major cause of sensorineural hearing loss. Hair cells in mammalian cochlea do not spontaneously regenerate, posing a great challenge for restoration of hearing. Here, we establish a robust, high-throughput cochlear organoid platform that facilitates 3D expansion of cochlear progenitor cells and differentiation of hair cells in a temporally regulated manner. High-throughput screening of the FDA-approved drug library identified regorafenib, a VEGFR inhibitor, as a potent small molecule for hair cell differentiation. Regorafenib also promotes reprogramming and maturation of hair cells in both normal and neomycin-damaged cochlear explants. Mechanistically, inhibition of VEGFR suppresses TGFB1 expression via the MEK pathway and TGFB1 downregulation directly mediates the effect of regorafenib on hair cell reprogramming. Our study not only demonstrates the power of a cochlear organoid platform in high-throughput analyses of hair cell physiology but also highlights VEGFR-MEK-TGFB1 signaling crosstalk as a potential target for hair cell regeneration and hearing restoration.

Electrophysiological characterization of acutely isolated spiral ganglion neurons in neonatal and mature sonic hedgehog knock-in mice

Spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) are primary afferent auditory neurons activated by inner hair cells in mammalian cochlea. Here, for the convenience of SGN studies such as patch-clamp or single cell RNA-sequence studies, a knock-in mouse (ShhCreEGFP/+; Rosa26-Tdtomatoloxp/+) was generated for the purpose of obtaining fluorescence SGNs. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) and Tuj1 immunohistochemistry staining were performed to verify the hearing function and the morphological characteristics. The results showed that there was no significant difference between shh and wild type mice. In electrophysiological studies, we verified a series of electrophysiological characteristics including the amplitude of sodium and potassium currents and action potential characteristics of shh and wild type mice and no significant differences were found either. From the above, shh mice have the same cell function and morphology as their littermate control wild type mice and could be used as an ideal tool to study the function and characteristics of spiral ganglion neurons.Potassium channels of SGNs play an important role in resolving time accuracy. We obtained similar amplitude of IK+ in neonatal and mature mice in the aging competition experiment, however, the density of IK+ from mature mice were significantly different from those of neonatal mice, a phenomenon that may play a key role in the nervous system. Potassium channels have been shown to contribute to apoptosis induced by cisplatin administration in various cell lines. Here we used cisplatin administration to study the ototoxicity and found that the effects of a low dose of cisplatin (0.5 mM correspond to therapeutic doses) causes a decrease in currents and is reversible after a short administration time. Moreover, we propose the activated state of potassium channels has changed but the characteristic and number remain still after cisplatin administration. The excess potassium ions may accumulate in the cell body, which had affected the firing properties and induce cytotoxicity and apoptosis. We suggest that the electrophysiological properties of acutely isolated SGNs may support further research on the mechanics of auditory propagation and ion channel pharmacology.

Hair Cell Regeneration

Hair Cell Regeneration

Cholinergic and purinergic signalling in outer hair cells of mammalian cochlea

Outer (OHC) and inner (IHC) hair cells in the organ of Corti of the mammalian cochlea process sound. OHC and their efferent synapse are part of a feedback system assumed to control and modulate information carried by afferent neurons passing from IHC to the brain. Underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This paper discusses recent progress. In vivo and in vitro information is presented on structure, pharmacology, function and localization of the pre- and postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) at the efferent synapse. Recent data are given on a presynaptic M3 AChR subtype, probably an autoreceptor involved in transmitter release. Data from our lab on specific binding of [ 3H]3-quinuclidinyl benzilate ([ 3H]3-QNB) to non-enzymatically isolated guinea pig OHC reveal a K D several 100 x higher than that for any known muscarinic receptor subtype, including the above-mentioned presynaptic muscarinic AChR of the OHC efferent synapse. The extremely high concentrations of [ 3H]3-QNB needed for any binding at all to OHC thus rule out presynaptic membrane impurities as the cause of such binding, and also the presence of a typical mAChR subtype on OHC. The number of [ 3H]3-QNB binding sites (∼ 10 6/OHC) we found on OHC was 1 10 th of that we found for binding of nicotinic ligands to OHC, further making it questionable that an ACh-binding site on OHC binds [ 3H]3-QNB. Observations may instead point to the possibility of another binding site, e.g. an (allosteric) site involved with the as yet not understood ‘weak’ muscarinic properties of the OHC AChR. Further new data on the OHC AChR confirm reversible α-bungarotoxin, nicotine and d-tubocurarine binding. [ 3H]α-Bungarotoxin and [ 3H]-nicotine binding sites are estimated at ∼6 · 10 7 sites/OHC. Strychnine, a glycine receptor blocker suggested to interfere with cholinergic sites of the efferent OHC synapse, was found to bind to OHC (cold strychnine for unspecific binding). This binding, not seen in the presence of high [glycine], increased in the presence of depolarizing [K +], while ACh (100 μM) had no significant effect. Results suggest strychnine binding to the outside of OHC, but also to sites accessible only after cell depolarization, possibly to the hyperpolarizing Ca 2+-dependent K + channel. Recent molecular cloning of the OHC AChR indicates a novel α-subunit. An often observed ACh-activated Ca 2+-influx close to zero into OHC leaves an unanswered question. OHC also carry P 2-purinergic receptors (P 2Rs), a more rapid ionotropic P 2zR-like subtype and a quantitatively dominating slow metabotropic P 2yR subtype coupled to a G protein-phospholipase C cascade and not desensitized. Both contribute to increased cytoplasmic [Ca 2+], from respectively external and internal sources. Whether or not such receptors are part of efferent synaptic activity is unknown; their localization on the OHC plasma membrane is so far only indirect and synaptic vesicles of the efferent nerve endings have not yet been analyzed for their ATP content. Localization, function and interaction of [Ca 2+] increases triggered by, respectively, ATP and ACh are currently studied in this laboratory.