Horseradish peroxidase dye tracing and embryonic statoacoustic ganglion cell transplantation in the rat auditory nerve trunk

Transplantation of human limbus-derived mesenchymal stromal cells via occipital approach improves hearing in animal auditory neuropathy

OBJECTIVE

To develop a surgical approach for cell transplantation into mouse cochlear nerves via an intracranial route and investigate whether transplantation of human limbus-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (HL-MSCs) can improve hearing in this model of auditory neuropathy.

METHODS

We used 8-week-old CBA/CaJ male mice and created ouabain-induced auditory neuropathy. The surgical approach passed through the cerebellum to reveal the superior semicircular canal and brainstem, allowing access to the auditory nerve. Then HL-MSCs were injected around the cochlear nerve trunk using a micropipette driven by a micropump. Hearing thresholds in the mice were determined by auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs).

RESULTS

We produced ouabain-induced neuropathy in mice with an elevated hearing threshold but normal DPOAE. Using immunohistological staining, we detected HL-MSCs were localized in the cochlear nerve trunk 2 days after cell transplantation via this occipital approach. More spiral ganglion neurons were detected in ouabain-treated cochleae 3 months after HL-MSCs transplantation compared to those without HL-MSCs transplantation. The ABR showed significant hearing improvement 3 months after HL-MSCs transplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

We successfully established a mouse model for cell transplantation into the intracranial cochlear nerve trunk and showed that HL-MSCs potentially can be applied as cell therapy to treat sensorineural hearing loss.

Stem Cells: A New Hope for Hearing Loss Therapy

Permanent hearing loss was considered which cannot be cured since cochlear hair cells and primary afferent neurons cannot be regenerated. In recent years, due to the in-depth study of stem cell and its therapeutic potential, regenerating auditory sensory cells is made possible. By using two strategies of endogenous stem cell activation and exogenous stem cell transplantation, researchers hope to find methods to restore hearing function. However, there are complex factors that need to be considered in the in vivo application of stem cell therapy, such as stem cell-type choice, signaling pathway regulations, transplantation approaches, internal environment of the cochlea, and external stimulation. After years of investigations, some theoretic progress has been made in the treatment of hearing loss using stem cells, but there are also many problems which limited its application that need to be solved. Understanding the future perspective of stem cell therapy in hearing loss, solving the encountered problems, and promoting its development are the common goals of audiological researchers. In this review, we present critical experimental findings of stem cell therapy on treatment of hearing loss and intend to bring hope to researchers and patients.

The olfactory mucosa: a potential source of stem cells for hearing regeneration

The olfactory mucosa contains cells that enable it to generate new neurons and other supporting cells throughout life, allowing it to replace cells of the mucosa that have been damaged by exposure to various insults. In this article, we discuss the different types of stem cell found within the olfactory mucosa and their properties. In particular, the mesenchymal-like cells found within the lamina propria will be reviewed in detail. In addition, we discuss potential applications of olfactory-derived stem cells toward hearing regeneration secondary to either inner hair cell loss or primary or secondary auditory nerve degeneration.

BDNF increases survival and neuronal differentiation of human neural precursor cells cotransplanted with a nanofiber gel to the auditory nerve in a rat model of neuronal damage

Objectives. To study possible nerve regeneration of a damaged auditory nerve by the use of stem cell transplantation. Methods. We transplanted HNPCs to the rat AN trunk by the internal auditory meatus (IAM). Furthermore, we studied if addition of BDNF affects survival and phenotypic differentiation of the grafted HNPCs. A bioactive nanofiber gel (PA gel), in selected groups mixed with BDNF, was applied close to the implanted cells. Before transplantation, all rats had been deafened by a round window niche application of β-bungarotoxin. This neurotoxin causes a selective toxic destruction of the AN while keeping the hair cells intact. Results. Overall, HNPCs survived well for up to six weeks in all groups. However, transplants receiving the BDNF-containing PA gel demonstrated significantly higher numbers of HNPCs and neuronal differentiation. At six weeks, a majority of the HNPCs had migrated into the brain stem and differentiated. Differentiated human cells as well as neurites were observed in the vicinity of the cochlear nucleus. Conclusion. Our results indicate that human neural precursor cells (HNPC) integration with host tissue benefits from additional brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) treatment and that these cells appear to be good candidates for further regenerative studies on the auditory nerve (AN).

Glyco-variant library of the versatile enzyme horseradish peroxidase

When the glycosylated plant enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is conjugated to specific antibodies, it presents a powerful tool for medical applications. The isolation and purification of this enzyme from plant is difficult and only gives low yields. However, HRP recombinantly produced in the yeast Pichia pastoris experiences hyperglycosylation, which impedes the use of this enzyme in medicine. Enzymatic and chemical deglycosylation are cost intensive and cumbersome and hitherto existing P. pastoris strain engineering approaches with the goal to avoid hyperglycosylation only resulted in physiologically impaired yeast strains not useful for protein production processes. Thus, the last resort to obtain less glycosylated recombinant HRP from P. pastoris is to engineer the enzyme itself. In the present study, we mutated all the eight N-glycosylation sites of HRP C1A. After determination of the most suitable mutation at each N-glycosylation site, we physiologically characterized the respective P. pastoris strains in the bioreactor and purified the produced HRP C1A glyco-variants. The biochemical characterization of the enzyme variants revealed great differences in catalytic activity and stability and allowed the combination of the most promising mutations to potentially give an unglycosylated, active HRP C1A variant useful for medical applications. Interestingly, site-directed mutagenesis proved to be a valuable strategy not only to reduce the overall glycan content of the recombinant enzyme but also to improve catalytic activity and stability. In the present study, we performed an integrated bioprocess covering strain generation, bioreactor cultivations, downstream processing and product characterization and present the biochemical data of the HRP glyco-library.

Production and purification of the multifunctional enzyme horseradish peroxidase

The oxidoreductase horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is used in numerous industrial and medical applications. In this review, we briefly describe this well-studied enzyme and focus on its promising use in targeted cancer treatment. In combination with a plant hormone, HRP can be used in specific enzyme-prodrug therapies. Despite this outstanding application, HRP has not found its way as a biopharmaceutical into targeted cancer therapy yet. The reasons therefore lie in the present low-yield production and cumbersome purification of this enzyme from its natural source. However, surface glycosylation renders the recombinant production of HRP difficult. Here, we compare different production hosts for HRP and summarize currently used production and purification strategies for this enzyme. We further present our own strategy of glycoengineering this powerful enzyme to allow recombinant high-yield production in Pichia pastoris and subsequent simple downstream processing.

Neuronal differentiation and extensive migration of human neural precursor cells following co-culture with rat auditory brainstem slices

Congenital or acquired hearing loss is often associated with a progressive degeneration of the auditory nerve (AN) in the inner ear. The AN is composed of processes and axons of the bipolar spiral ganglion neurons (SGN), forming the connection between the hair cells in the inner ear cochlea and the cochlear nuclei (CN) in the brainstem (BS). Therefore, replacement of SGNs for restoring the AN to improve hearing function in patients who receive a cochlear implantation or have severe AN malfunctions is an attractive idea. A human neural precursor cell (HNPC) is an appropriate donor cell to investigate, as it can be isolated and expanded in vitro with maintained potential to form neurons and glia. We recently developed a post-natal rodent in vitro auditory BS slice culture model including the CN and the central part of the AN for initial studies of candidate cells. Here we characterized the survival, distribution, phenotypic differentiation, and integration capacity of HNPCs into the auditory circuitry in vitro. HNPC aggregates (spheres) were deposited adjacent to or on top of the BS slices or as a monoculture (control). The results demonstrate that co-cultured HNPCs compared to monocultures (1) survive better, (2) distribute over a larger area, (3) to a larger extent and in a shorter time-frame form mature neuronal and glial phenotypes. HNPC showed the ability to extend neurites into host tissue. Our findings suggest that the HNPC-BS slice co-culture is appropriate for further investigations on the integration capacity of HNPCs into the auditory circuitry.