Using Sox2 to alleviate the hallmarks of age-related hearing loss.
Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is the most prevalent sensory deficit. ARHL reduces the quality of life of the growing population, setting seniors up for the enhanced mental decline. The size of the needy population, the structural deficit, and a likely research strategy for effective treatment of chronic neurosensory hearing in the elderly are needed. Although there has been profound advancement in auditory regenerative research, there remain multiple challenges to restore hearing loss. Thus, additional investigations are required, using novel tools. We propose how the (1) flat epithelium, remaining after the organ of Corti has deteriorated, can be converted to the repaired-sensory epithelium, using Sox2. This will include (2) developing an artificial gene regulatory network transmitted by (3) large viral vectors to the flat epithelium to stimulate remnants of the organ of Corti to restore hair cells. We hope to unite with our proposal toward the common goal, eventually restoring a functional human hearing organ by transforming the flat epithelial cells left after the organ of Corti loss.
['Yamoah|Ebenezer N|EN|', 'Li|Mark|M|', 'Shah|Anit|A|', 'Elliott|Karen L|KL|', 'Cheah|Kathy|K|', 'Xu|Pin-Xian|PX|', 'Phillips|Stacia|S|', 'Young|Samuel M|SM|', 'Eberl|Daniel F|DF|', 'Fritzsch|Bernd|B|']
D000368:Aged D000375:Aging D003051:Cochlea D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory D034381:Hearing Loss D006801:Humans D011304:Presbycusis D011788:Quality of Life D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors
Age-related hearing loss The organ of Corti Artificial gene regulatory networks Viral vectors Cochlea Hair cell development Hair cell restoration