Basic Research for a Cure for Challenging Sensorineural Deafness

YANG Shi-ming; WU Nan

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1672-2922.2013.03.001

Abstract：Permanent sensorineural hearing loss could be caused by lesions of inner ear sensory cells. The damaged auditory physiological structure cannot be reconstructed by replacement therapies, e.g. cochlear implant. The ultimate treat-ment of sensorineural hearing loss is the repair and regeneration of inner ear sensory cells. Numerous advances currently have been achieved. Manipulation of key regulatory genes of auditory development system may help achieve the goals of pro-tection, proliferation and differentiation of inner ear sensory cells and subsequent recovery of hearing function. This review focuses on the progress of Shi-Ming Yang’s group in the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss and describes the lastest worldwide advance. Firstly, we have established a series of new animal models of hearing loss, supported by the Youth Proj-ect, General Project and Major Project of National Natural Science Foundation, which provided a necessary research plat-form for the intervention of auditory function and was used to identify potential intervention targets. Secondly, we have ex-plored the possibility of gene therapy in the inner ear and are now solving many technical difficulties in clinical application, such as the efficient and safe technology of inner ear delivery, especially delivery vectors of bioactive molecules. These works have been supported by both the National 863 Project and Major Project of the National Natural Science Foundation. Thirdly, breakthroughs have been made in basic research based on stem cell treatment of deafness, which were funded by Auditory Stem Cell Project and Significant Scientific Problem Orientation Project of National 973 Project. The results of our studies suggest that it is necessary to fully understand the pathogenesis of inner ear molecular pathology in order to develop efficient intervention strategies regardless of gene therapy, molecular therapy or stem cell treatment, as such information is helpful for choosing the proper intervention approach and best intervention time. We believe that multi-element joint inter-vention and individualized therapy will become the trend in sensorineural hearing loss treatment and the most advancing field of interdisciplinary collaboration.