1
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Tu S, Zuo J. Systematic single cell RNA sequencing analysis reveals unique transcriptional regulatory networks of Atoh1-mediated hair cell conversion in adult mouse cochleae. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284685. [PMID: 38079436 PMCID: PMC10712870 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Regeneration of mammalian cochlear hair cells (HCs) by modulating molecular pathways or transcription factors is a promising approach to hearing restoration; however, immaturity of the regenerated HCs in vivo remains a major challenge. Here, we analyzed a single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset during Atoh1-induced supporting cell (SC) to hair cell (HC) conversion in adult mouse cochleae (Yamashita et al. (2018)) using multiple high-throughput sequencing analytical tools (WGCNA, SCENIC, ARACNE, and VIPER). Instead of focusing on differentially expressed genes, we established independent expression modules and confirmed the existence of multiple conversion stages. Gene regulatory network (GRN) analysis uncovered previously unidentified key regulators, including Nhlh1, Lhx3, Barhl1 and Nfia, that guide converted HC differentiation. Comparison of the late-stage converted HCs with the scRNA-seq data from neonatal mouse cochleae (Kolla et al. (2020)) revealed that they closely resemble postnatal day 1 wild-type OHCs, in contrast to other developmental stages. Using ARACNE and VIPER, we discovered multiple key regulators likely to promote conversion to a more mature OHC-like state, including Zbtb20, Nfia, Zmiz1, Gm14418, Bhlhe40, Six2, Fosb and Klf9. Our findings provide insights into the regulation of HC regeneration in adult mammalian cochleae in vivo and demonstrate an approach for analyzing GRNs in large scRNA-seq datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Tu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, United States of America
| | - Jian Zuo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, United States of America
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2
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Wang J, Zheng J, Wang H, He H, Li S, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Xu X, Wang S. Gene therapy: an emerging therapy for hair cells regeneration in the cochlea. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1177791. [PMID: 37207182 PMCID: PMC10188948 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1177791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensorineural hearing loss is typically caused by damage to the cochlear hair cells (HCs) due to external stimuli or because of one's genetic factors and the inability to convert sound mechanical energy into nerve impulses. Adult mammalian cochlear HCs cannot regenerate spontaneously; therefore, this type of deafness is usually considered irreversible. Studies on the developmental mechanisms of HC differentiation have revealed that nonsensory cells in the cochlea acquire the ability to differentiate into HCs after the overexpression of specific genes, such as Atoh1, which makes HC regeneration possible. Gene therapy, through in vitro selection and editing of target genes, transforms exogenous gene fragments into target cells and alters the expression of genes in target cells to activate the corresponding differentiation developmental program in target cells. This review summarizes the genes that have been associated with the growth and development of cochlear HCs in recent years and provides an overview of gene therapy approaches in the field of HC regeneration. It concludes with a discussion of the limitations of the current therapeutic approaches to facilitate the early implementation of this therapy in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jipeng Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jianwei Zheng
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Haiyan Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Haoying He
- Department of Neurology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ya Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - You Wang
- Department of Stomatology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- *Correspondence: You Wang,
| | - Xiaoxiang Xu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Xiaoxiang Xu,
| | - Shuyi Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Shuyi Wang,
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3
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Connolly K, Gonzalez-Cordero A. Modelling inner ear development and disease using pluripotent stem cells - a pathway to new therapeutic strategies. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:dmm049593. [PMID: 36331565 PMCID: PMC10621662 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The sensory epithelia of the mammalian inner ear enable sound and movement to be perceived. Damage to these epithelia can cause irreversible sensorineural hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction because they lack regenerative capacity. The human inner ear cannot be biopsied without causing permanent damage, significantly limiting the tissue samples available for research. Investigating disease pathology and therapeutic developments have therefore traditionally relied on animal models, which often cannot completely recapitulate the human otic systems. These challenges are now being partly addressed using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cultures, which generate the sensory epithelial-like tissues of the inner ear. Here, we review how pluripotent stem cells have been used to produce two-dimensional and three-dimensional otic cultures, the strengths and limitations of these new approaches, and how they have been employed to investigate genetic and acquired forms of audiovestibular dysfunction. This Review provides an overview of the progress in pluripotent stem cell-derived otic cultures thus far, focusing on their applications in disease modelling and therapeutic trials. We survey their current limitations and future directions, highlighting their prospective utility for high-throughput drug screening and developing personalised medicine approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keeva Connolly
- Stem Cell Medicine Group, Children's Medical Research Institute, Westmead, 2145 NSW, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead, 2145 NSW, Australia
| | - Anai Gonzalez-Cordero
- Stem Cell Medicine Group, Children's Medical Research Institute, Westmead, 2145 NSW, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead, 2145 NSW, Australia
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4
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Deafness-in-a-dish: modeling hereditary deafness with inner ear organoids. Hum Genet 2021; 141:347-362. [PMID: 34342719 PMCID: PMC9035009 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-021-02325-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a major cause of functional disability in both the developed and developing world. While hearing aids and cochlear implants provide significant benefit to many with SNHL, neither targets the cellular and molecular dysfunction that ultimately underlies SNHL. The successful development of more targeted approaches, such as growth factor, stem cell, and gene therapies, will require a yet deeper understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of human hearing and deafness. Unfortunately, the human inner ear cannot be biopsied without causing significant, irreversible damage to the hearing or balance organ. Thus, much of our current understanding of the cellular and molecular biology of human deafness, and of the human auditory system more broadly, has been inferred from observational and experimental studies in animal models, each of which has its own advantages and limitations. In 2013, researchers described a protocol for the generation of inner ear organoids from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), which could serve as scalable, high-fidelity alternatives to animal models. Here, we discuss the advantages and limitations of conventional models of the human auditory system, describe the generation and characteristics of PSC-derived inner ear organoids, and discuss several strategies and recent attempts to model hereditary deafness in vitro. Finally, we suggest and discuss several focus areas for the further, intensive characterization of inner ear organoids and discuss the translational applications of these novel models of the human inner ear.
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5
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Bergman JE, Davies C, Denton AJ, Ashman PE, Mittal R, Eshraghi AA. Advancements in Stem Cell Technology and Organoids for the Restoration of Sensorineural Hearing Loss. J Am Acad Audiol 2021; 32:636-645. [PMID: 34034344 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1728677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a significant cause of morbidity worldwide and currently has no curative treatment. Technological advancements in stem cell therapy have led to numerous studies that examine the generation of otic sensory cells from progenitors to restore inner ear function. Recently, organoids have emerged as a promising technique to further advance the process of creating functional replacement cells after irreversible hearing loss. Organoids are the three-dimensional generation of stem cells in culture to model the tissue organization and cellular components of the inner ear. Organoids have emerged as a promising technique to create functioning cochlear structures in vitro and may provide crucial information for the utilization of stem cells to restore SNHL. PURPOSE The purpose of this review is to discuss the recent advancements in stem cell-based regenerative therapy for SNHL. RESULTS Recent studies have improved our understanding about the developmental pathways involved in the generation of hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons. However, significant challenges remain in elucidating the molecular interactions and interplay required for stem cells to differentiate and function as otic sensory cells. A few of the challenges encountered with traditional stem cell therapy may be addressed with organoids. CONCLUSION Stem cell-based regenerative therapy holds a great potential for developing novel treatment modalities for SNHL. Further advancements are needed in addressing the challenges associated with stem cell-based regenerative therapy and promote their translation from bench to bedside.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna E Bergman
- Department of Otolaryngology, Cochlear Implant and Hearing Research Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Camron Davies
- Department of Otolaryngology, Cochlear Implant and Hearing Research Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Alexa J Denton
- Department of Otolaryngology, Cochlear Implant and Hearing Research Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Peter E Ashman
- Department of Otolaryngology, Cochlear Implant and Hearing Research Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Rahul Mittal
- Department of Otolaryngology, Cochlear Implant and Hearing Research Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Adrien A Eshraghi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Cochlear Implant and Hearing Research Laboratory, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.,Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Miami, Florida.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
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6
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Roccio M. Directed differentiation and direct reprogramming: Applying stem cell technologies to hearing research. Stem Cells 2020; 39:375-388. [PMID: 33378797 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Hearing loss is the most widely spread sensory disorder in our society. In the majority of cases, it is caused by the loss or malfunctioning of cells in the cochlea: the mechanosensory hair cells, which act as primary sound receptors, and the connecting auditory neurons of the spiral ganglion, which relay the signal to upper brain centers. In contrast to other vertebrates, where damage to the hearing organ can be repaired through the activity of resident cells, acting as tissue progenitors, in mammals, sensory cell damage or loss is irreversible. The understanding of gene and cellular functions, through analysis of different animal models, has helped to identify causes of disease and possible targets for hearing restoration. Translation of these findings to novel therapeutics is, however, hindered by the lack of cellular assays, based on human sensory cells, to evaluate the conservation of molecular pathways across species and the efficacy of novel therapeutic strategies. In the last decade, stem cell technologies enabled to generate human sensory cell types in vitro, providing novel tools to study human inner ear biology, model disease, and validate therapeutics. This review focuses specifically on two technologies: directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells and direct reprogramming of somatic cell types to sensory hair cells and neurons. Recent development in the field are discussed as well as how these tools could be implemented to become routinely adopted experimental models for hearing research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Roccio
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), and University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
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7
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van der Valk WH, Steinhart MR, Zhang J, Koehler KR. Building inner ears: recent advances and future challenges for in vitro organoid systems. Cell Death Differ 2020; 28:24-34. [PMID: 33318601 PMCID: PMC7853146 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-020-00678-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
While inner ear disorders are common, our ability to intervene and recover their sensory function is limited. In vitro models of the inner ear, like the organoid system, could aid in identifying new regenerative drugs and gene therapies. Here, we provide a perspective on the status of in vitro inner ear models and guidance on how to improve their applicability in translational research. We highlight the generation of inner ear cell types from pluripotent stem cells as a particularly promising focus of research. Several exciting recent studies have shown how the developmental signaling cues of embryonic and fetal development can be mimicked to differentiate stem cells into “inner ear organoids” containing otic progenitor cells, hair cells, and neurons. However, current differentiation protocols and our knowledge of embryonic and fetal inner ear development in general, have a bias toward the sensory epithelia of the inner ear. We propose that a more holistic view is needed to better model the inner ear in vitro. Moving forward, attention should be made to the broader diversity of neuroglial and mesenchymal cell types of the inner ear, and how they interact in space or time during development. With improved control of epithelial, neuroglial, and mesenchymal cell fate specification, inner ear organoids would have the ability to truly recapitulate neurosensory function and dysfunction. We conclude by discussing how single-cell atlases of the developing inner ear and technical innovations will be critical tools to advance inner ear organoid platforms for future pre-clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wouter H van der Valk
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Department of Otolaryngology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Matthew R Steinhart
- Department of Otolaryngology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.,Medical Neuroscience Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Jingyuan Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Plastic and Oral Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Karl R Koehler
- Department of Otolaryngology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. .,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA. .,Department of Plastic and Oral Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. .,F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. .,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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8
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Waqas M, Us-Salam I, Bibi Z, Wang Y, Li H, Zhu Z, He S. Stem Cell-Based Therapeutic Approaches to Restore Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Mammals. Neural Plast 2020; 2020:8829660. [PMID: 32802037 PMCID: PMC7416290 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8829660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The hair cells that reside in the cochlear sensory epithelium are the fundamental sensory structures responsible for understanding the mechanical sound waves evoked in the environment. The intense damage to these sensory structures may result in permanent hearing loss. The present strategies to rehabilitate the hearing function include either hearing aids or cochlear implants that may recover the hearing capability of deaf patients to a limited extent. Therefore, much attention has been paid on developing regenerative therapies to regenerate/replace the lost hair cells to treat the damaged cochlear sensory epithelium. The stem cell therapy is a promising approach to develop the functional hair cells and neuronal cells from endogenous and exogenous stem cell pool to recover hearing loss. In this review, we specifically discuss the potential of different kinds of stem cells that hold the potential to restore sensorineural hearing loss in mammals and comprehensively explain the current therapeutic applications of stem cells in both the human and mouse inner ear to regenerate/replace the lost hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Waqas
- Department of Biotechnology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Campus, Karachi, Pakistan
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck, Nanjing Tongren Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 211102, China
| | - Iram Us-Salam
- Department of Biotechnology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Campus, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Zainab Bibi
- Department of Biotechnology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Campus, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Yunfeng Wang
- ENT Institute and Otorhinolaryngology Department of Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine (Fudan University), Shanghai 200031, China
| | - He Li
- Department of Otolaryngology, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou City, 325000 Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Zhongshou Zhu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Ningde Municipal Hospital Affiliated of Fujian Medical University (Ningde Institute of Otolaryngology), Ningde, Fujian 352100, China
| | - Shuangba He
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck, Nanjing Tongren Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 211102, China
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9
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Tang PC, Hashino E, Nelson RF. Progress in Modeling and Targeting Inner Ear Disorders with Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cell Reports 2020; 14:996-1008. [PMID: 32442531 PMCID: PMC7355141 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensorineural hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction are caused by damage to neurons and mechanosensitive hair cells, which do not regenerate to any clinically relevant extent in humans. Several protocols have been devised to direct pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) into inner ear hair cells and neurons, which display many properties of their native counterparts. The efficiency, reproducibility, and scalability of these protocols are enhanced by incorporating knowledge of inner ear development. Modeling human diseases in vitro through genetic manipulation of PSCs is already feasible, thereby permitting the elucidation of mechanistic understandings of a wide array of disease etiologies. Early studies on transplantation of PSC-derived otic progenitors have been successful in certain animal models, yet restoration of function and long-term cell survival remain unrealized. Through further research, PSC-based approaches will continue to revolutionize our understanding of inner ear biology and contribute to the development of therapeutic treatments for inner ear disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Ciao Tang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Eri Hashino
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Rick F Nelson
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
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10
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Zhao D, Chen S, Horie T, Gao Y, Bao H, Liu X. Comparison of differentiation gene batteries for migratory mechanosensory neurons across bilaterians. Evol Dev 2020; 22:438-450. [PMID: 32078235 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In embryos of distantly related bilaterian phyla, their lateral neural borders give rise to the peripheral nervous system elements, including various mechanosensory cells derived from migratory precursors, such as hair cells and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in vertebrates, bipolar tail neuron (BTN) in Ciona, chordotonal organ in Drosophila, and AVM/PVM in Caenorhabditis elegans. Developmental genetics studies had revealed a couple of transcription factors (TFs) regulating differentiation of mechanosensory cells shared by vertebrates and arthropods. However, unbiased systematic profiling of regulators is needed to demonstrate conservation of differentiation gene batteries for mechanosensory cells across bilaterians. At first, we observed that in both C. elegans Q neuroblasts and Drosophila lateral neuroectoderm, conserved NPB specifier Msx/vab-15 regulates Atoh1/lin-32, supporting the homology of mechanosensory neuron development in lateral neural border lineage of Ecdysozia. So we used C. elegans as a protostomia model. Single-cell resolution expression profiling of TFs and genetic analysis revealed a differentiation gene battery (Atonh1/lin-32, Drg11/alr-1, Gfi1/pag-3, Lhx5/mec-3, and Pou4/unc-86) for AVM/PVM mechanosensory neurons. The worm-gene battery significantly overlaps with both that of placode-derived Atonh1/lin-32-dependent hair cells and that of NPB-derived Neurogenin-dependent DRG neurons in vertebrates, supporting the homology of molecular mechanisms underlying the differentiation of neural border-derived mechanosensory cells between protostome and deuterostome. At last, Ciona BTN, the homolog of vertebrate DRG, also expresses Atonh1/lin-32, further supporting the homology notion and indicating a common origin of hair cells and DRG in vertebrate lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Siyu Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Takeo Horie
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Yimeng Gao
- School of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongcun Bao
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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11
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Kang W, Sun Z, Zhao X, Wang X, Tao Y, Wu H. Gene editing based hearing impairment research and therapeutics. Neurosci Lett 2019; 709:134326. [PMID: 31195050 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Hearing impairment affects 1 in 500 newborns worldwide and nearly one out of three people over the age of 65 (WHO, 2019). Hereditary hearing loss is the most common type of congenital deafness; genetic factors also affect deafness susceptibility. Gene therapies may preserve or restore natural sound perception, and have rescued deafness in multiple hereditary murine models. CRISPR-Cas9 and base editors (BEs) are newly developed gene editing technologies that can facilitate gene studies in the inner ear and provide therapeutic approaches for hearing impairment. Here, we present recent applications of gene editing in the inner ear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Kang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, China
| | - Zhuoer Sun
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, China
| | - Xingle Zhao
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, China
| | - Xueling Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, China.
| | - Yong Tao
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, China.
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose Diseases, China.
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12
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Hou K, Jiang H, Karim MR, Zhong C, Xu Z, Liu L, Guan M, Shao J, Huang X. A Critical E-box in Barhl1 3' Enhancer Is Essential for Auditory Hair Cell Differentiation. Cells 2019; 8:cells8050458. [PMID: 31096644 PMCID: PMC6562609 DOI: 10.3390/cells8050458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Barhl1, a mouse homologous gene of Drosophila BarH class homeobox genes, is highly expressed within the inner ear and crucial for the long-term maintenance of auditory hair cells that mediate hearing and balance, yet little is known about the molecular events underlying Barhl1 regulation and function in hair cells. In this study, through data mining and in vitro report assay, we firstly identified Barhl1 as a direct target gene of Atoh1 and one E-box (E3) in Barhl1 3’ enhancer is crucial for Atoh1-mediated Barhl1 activation. Then we generated a mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) line carrying disruptions on this E3 site E-box (CAGCTG) using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and this E3 mutated mESC line is further subjected to an efficient stepwise hair cell differentiation strategy in vitro. Disruptions on this E3 site caused dramatic loss of Barhl1 expression and significantly reduced the number of induced hair cell-like cells, while no affections on the differentiation toward early primitive ectoderm-like cells and otic progenitors. Finally, through RNA-seq profiling and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, we found that this E3 box was indispensable for Barhl1 expression to maintain hair cell development and normal functions. We also compared the transcriptional profiles of induced cells from CDS mutated and E3 mutated mESCs, respectively, and got very consistent results except the Barhl1 transcript itself. These observations indicated that Atoh1-mediated Barhl1 expression could have important roles during auditory hair cell development. In brief, our findings delineate the detail molecular mechanism of Barhl1 expression regulation in auditory hair cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Hou
- Institute of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Hui Jiang
- Institute of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Md Rezaul Karim
- Institute of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic University, Kushtia 7003, Bangladesh.
| | - Chao Zhong
- Institute of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Zhouwen Xu
- Institute of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Lin Liu
- Institute of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Minxin Guan
- Institute of Genetics, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
| | - Jianzhong Shao
- Institute of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
- Key Laboratory for Cell and Gene Engineering of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Xiao Huang
- Institute of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
- Key Laboratory for Cell and Gene Engineering of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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Zhong C, Fu Y, Pan W, Yu J, Wang J. Atoh1 and other related key regulators in the development of auditory sensory epithelium in the mammalian inner ear: function and interplay. Dev Biol 2019; 446:133-141. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 12/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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