Trans-differentiation of outer hair cells into inner hair cells in the absence of INSM1.

ABSTRACT: The mammalian cochlea contains two types of mechanosensory hair cell that have different and critical functions in hearing. Inner hair cells (IHCs), which have an elaborate presynaptic apparatus, signal to cochlear neurons and communicate sound information to the brain. Outer hair cells (OHCs) mechanically amplify sound-induced vibrations, providing enhanced sensitivity to sound and sharp tuning. Cochlear hair cells are solely generated during development, and hair cell death-most often of OHCs-is the most common cause of deafness. OHCs and IHCs, together with supporting cells, originate in embryos from the prosensory region of the otocyst, but how hair cells differentiate into two different types is unknown^1-3. Here we show that Insm1, which encodes a zinc finger protein that i

SUBMITTER: Wiwatpanit T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6279423 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature