Potential of Gene and Cell Therapy for Inner Ear Hair Cells

Figure 1

Gene and stem cell therapies for hearing loss. Viral vectors carrying a protective gene are delivered into the fluid cavity of the cochlea, where they transfect hair cells and ultimately protect hearing (a). The regeneration of hair cells is achieved by the transduction of supporting cells of the flat epithelium using a viral vector carrying a regenerative gene (b). In stem cell therapy, pluripotent stem cells are delivered into the fluid-filled cochlear cavity and then migrate and penetrate into the flat epithelium. With the help of growth factors, these cells will differentiate into the hair-cell-like cells (c) (OHC: outer hair cell, IHC: inner hair cell, SC: supporting cell, ESC: embryonic stem cell, and IPC: induced pluripotent cell).

(a)

(b)

(c)