Expression of Atoh1, Gfi1, and Pou4f3 in the mature cochlea reprograms nonsensory cells into hair cells.

ABSTRACT: Mechanosensory hair cells of the mature mammalian organ of Corti do not regenerate; consequently, loss of hair cells leads to permanent hearing loss. Although nonmammalian vertebrates can regenerate hair cells from neighboring supporting cells, many humans with severe hearing loss lack both hair cells and supporting cells, with the organ of Corti being replaced by a flat epithelium of nonsensory cells. To determine whether the mature cochlea can produce hair cells in vivo, we reprogrammed nonsensory cells adjacent to the organ of Corti with three hair cell transcription factors: Gfi1, Atoh1, and Pou4f3. We generated numerous hair cell-like cells in nonsensory regions of the cochlea and new hair cells continued to be added over a period of 9 wk. Significantly, cells adj

SUBMITTER: McGovern MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10835112 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature