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Ma X, Guo J, Tian M, Fu Y, Jiang P, Zhang Y, Chai R. Advance and Application of Single-cell Transcriptomics in Auditory Research. Neurosci Bull 2024; 40:963-980. [PMID: 38015350 PMCID: PMC11250760 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01149-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hearing loss and deafness, as a worldwide disability disease, have been troubling human beings. However, the auditory organ of the inner ear is highly heterogeneous and has a very limited number of cells, which are largely uncharacterized in depth. Recently, with the development and utilization of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), researchers have been able to unveil the complex and sophisticated biological mechanisms of various types of cells in the auditory organ at the single-cell level and address the challenges of cellular heterogeneity that are not resolved through by conventional bulk RNA sequencing (bulk RNA-seq). Herein, we reviewed the application of scRNA-seq technology in auditory research, with the aim of providing a reference for the development of auditory organs, the pathogenesis of hearing loss, and regenerative therapy. Prospects about spatial transcriptomic scRNA-seq, single-cell based genome, and Live-seq technology will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Jiamin Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Mengyao Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Yaoyang Fu
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University school of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310030, China
| | - Pei Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Jiangsu Provincial Key Medical Discipline (Laboratory), Nanjing, China
- Research Institute of Otolaryngology, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Renjie Chai
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, China.
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 101408, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
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2
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Zhang L, Chen X, Wang X, Zhou Y, Fang Y, Gu X, Zhang Z, Sun Q, Li N, Xu L, Tan F, Chai R, Qi J. AAV-mediated Gene Cocktails Enhance Supporting Cell Reprogramming and Hair Cell Regeneration. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2304551. [PMID: 38810137 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian cochlear hair cells (HCs) are essential for hearing, and damage to HCs results in severe hearing impairment. Damaged HCs can be regenerated by neighboring supporting cells (SCs), thus the functional regeneration of HCs is the main goal for the restoration of auditory function in vivo. Here, cochlear SC trans-differentiation into outer and inner HC by the induced expression of the key transcription factors Atoh1 and its co-regulators Gfi1, Pou4f3, and Six1 (GPAS), which are necessary for SCs that are destined for HC development and maturation via the AAV-ie targeting the inner ear stem cells are successfully achieved. Single-cell nuclear sequencing and lineaging tracing results showed that the majority of new Atoh1-derived HCs are in a state of initiating differentiation, while GP (Gfi1, Pou4f3) and GPS (Gfi1, Pou4f3, and Six1) enhanced the Atoh1-induced new HCs into inner and outer HCs. Moreover, the patch-clamp analysis indicated that newborn inner HCs induced by GPAS forced expression have similar electrophysiological characteristics to those of native inner HCs. Also, GPAS can induce HC regeneration in the HC-damaged mice model. In summary, the study demonstrates that AAV-mediated co-regulation of multiple genes, such as GPAS, is an effective means to achieve functional HC regeneration in the mouse cochlea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, School of Medicine, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Xin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, School of Medicine, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Xinlin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, School of Medicine, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Yinyi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, School of Medicine, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Yuan Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, School of Medicine, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Xingliang Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, School of Medicine, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Ziyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, School of Medicine, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Qiuhan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, School of Medicine, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Nianci Li
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, School of Medicine, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250022, China
- Shandong Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Jinan, 250022, China
| | - Fangzhi Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, School of Medicine, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Renjie Chai
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, School of Medicine, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
- Department of Neurology, Aerospace Center Hospital, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, China
- Southeast University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518063, China
| | - Jieyu Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, School of Medicine, Advanced Institute for Life and Health, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
- Department of Neurology, Aerospace Center Hospital, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China
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3
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Choi SW, Abitbol JM, Cheng AG. Hair Cell Regeneration: From Animals to Humans. Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 17:1-14. [PMID: 38271988 PMCID: PMC10933805 DOI: 10.21053/ceo.2023.01382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Cochlear hair cells convert sound into electrical signals that are relayed via the spiral ganglion neurons to the central auditory pathway. Hair cells are vulnerable to damage caused by excessive noise, aging, and ototoxic agents. Non-mammals can regenerate lost hair cells by mitotic regeneration and direct transdifferentiation of surrounding supporting cells. However, in mature mammals, damaged hair cells are not replaced, resulting in permanent hearing loss. Recent studies have uncovered mechanisms by which sensory organs in non-mammals and the neonatal mammalian cochlea regenerate hair cells, and outlined possible mechanisms why this ability declines rapidly with age in mammals. Here, we review similarities and differences between avian, zebrafish, and mammalian hair cell regeneration. Moreover, we discuss advances and limitations of hair cell regeneration in the mature cochlea and their potential applications to human hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Won Choi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Julia M. Abitbol
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Alan G. Cheng
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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Zhu K, Wang T, Li S, Liu Z, Zhan Y, Zhang Q. NcRNA: key and potential in hearing loss. Front Neurosci 2024; 17:1333131. [PMID: 38298898 PMCID: PMC10827912 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1333131] [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: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Hearing loss has an extremely high prevalence worldwide and brings incredible economic and social burdens. Mechanisms such as epigenetics are profoundly involved in the initiation and progression of hearing loss and potentially yield definite strategies for hearing loss treatment. Non-coding genes occupy 97% of the human genome, and their transcripts, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), are widely participated in regulating various physiological and pathological situations. NcRNAs, mainly including micro-RNAs (miRNAs), long-stranded non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are involved in the regulation of cell metabolism and cell death by modulating gene expression and protein-protein interactions, thus impacting the occurrence and prognosis of hearing loss. This review provides a detailed overview of ncRNAs, especially miRNAs and lncRNAs, in the pathogenesis of hearing loss. We also discuss the shortcomings and issues that need to be addressed in the study of hearing loss ncRNAs in the hope of providing viable therapeutic strategies for the precise treatment of hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyu Zhu
- Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Sicheng Li
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zeming Liu
- Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhan
- Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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5
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Li X, Ren M, Gu Y, Zhu T, Zhang Y, Li J, Li C, Wang G, Song L, Bi Z, Liu Z. In situ regeneration of inner hair cells in the damaged cochlea by temporally regulated co-expression of Atoh1 and Tbx2. Development 2023; 150:dev201888. [PMID: 38078650 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Cochlear inner hair cells (IHCs) are primary sound receptors, and are therefore a target for developing treatments for hearing impairment. IHC regeneration in vivo has been widely attempted, although not yet in the IHC-damaged cochlea. Moreover, the extent to which new IHCs resemble wild-type IHCs remains unclear, as is the ability of new IHCs to improve hearing. Here, we have developed an in vivo mouse model wherein wild-type IHCs were pre-damaged and nonsensory supporting cells were transformed into IHCs by ectopically expressing Atoh1 transiently and Tbx2 permanently. Notably, the new IHCs expressed the functional marker vGlut3 and presented similar transcriptomic and electrophysiological properties to wild-type IHCs. Furthermore, the formation efficiency and maturity of new IHCs were higher than those previously reported, although marked hearing improvement was not achieved, at least partly due to defective mechanoelectrical transduction (MET) in new IHCs. Thus, we have successfully regenerated new IHCs resembling wild-type IHCs in many respects in the damaged cochlea. Our findings suggest that the defective MET is a critical barrier that prevents the restoration of hearing capacity and should thus facilitate future IHC regeneration studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Minhui Ren
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yunpeng Gu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tong Zhu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
| | - Jie Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Chao Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Guangqin Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lei Song
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
| | - Zhenghong Bi
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai 201210, China
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You D, Ni W, Huang Y, Zhou Q, Zhang Y, Jiang T, Chen Y, Li W. The proper timing of Atoh1 expression is pivotal for hair cell subtype differentiation and the establishment of inner ear function. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:349. [PMID: 37930405 PMCID: PMC10628023 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04947-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Atoh1 overexpression is essential for hair cell (HC) regeneration in the sensory epithelium of mammalian auditory and vestibular organs. However, Atoh1 overexpression alone cannot induce fully mature and functional HCs in the mammalian inner ear. In the current study, we investigated the effect of Atoh1 constitutive overexpression in native HCs by manipulating Atoh1 expression at different developmental stages. We demonstrated that constitutive overexpression of Atoh1 in native vestibular HCs did not affect cell survival but did impair vestibular function by interfering with the subtype differentiation of HCs and hair bundle development. In contrast, Atoh1 overexpression in cochlear HCs impeded their maturation, eventually leading to gradual HC loss in the cochlea and hearing dysfunction. Our study suggests that time-restricted Atoh1 expression is essential for the differentiation and survival of HCs in the inner ear, and this is pivotal for both hearing and vestibular function re-establishment through Atoh1 overexpression-induced HC regeneration strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan You
- ENT Institute, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, The Institutes of Brain Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenli Ni
- ENT Institute, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, The Institutes of Brain Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Yikang Huang
- ENT Institute, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, The Institutes of Brain Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Qin Zhou
- ENT Institute, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, The Institutes of Brain Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanping Zhang
- ENT Institute, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, The Institutes of Brain Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Jiang
- ENT Institute, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, The Institutes of Brain Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Chen
- ENT Institute, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, The Institutes of Brain Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wenyan Li
- ENT Institute, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, The Institutes of Brain Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China.
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Chen Y, Lee JH, Li J, Park S, Flores MCP, Peguero B, Kersigo J, Kang M, Choi J, Levine L, Gratton MA, Fritzsch B, Yamoah EN. Genetic and pharmacologic alterations of claudin9 levels suffice to induce functional and mature inner hair cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.08.561387. [PMID: 37873357 PMCID: PMC10592694 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.08.561387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Hearing loss is the most common form of sensory deficit. It occurs predominantly due to hair cell (HC) loss. Mammalian HCs are terminally differentiated by birth, making HC loss incurable. Here, we show the pharmacogenetic downregulation of Cldn9, a tight junction protein, generates robust supernumerary inner HCs (IHCs) in mice. The putative ectopic IHCs have functional and synaptic features akin to typical IHCs and were surprisingly and remarkably preserved for at least fifteen months >50% of the mouse's life cycle. In vivo, Cldn9 knockdown using shRNA on postnatal days (P) P1-7 yielded analogous functional putative ectopic IHCs that were equally durably conserved. The findings suggest that Cldn9 levels coordinate embryonic and postnatal HC differentiation, making it a viable target for altering IHC development pre- and post-terminal differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Chen
- University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Reno NV 89557
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Jeong Han Lee
- University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Reno NV 89557
| | - Jin Li
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Washington Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Seojin Park
- University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Reno NV 89557
- Prestige Biopharma, 11-12F, 44, Myongjigukje7-ro, Gangseo-gu, Busan, South Korea 67264
| | - Maria C. Perez Flores
- University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Reno NV 89557
| | - Braulio Peguero
- Otolaryngology-Head, Neck Surgery, St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri 63108
| | | | - Mincheol Kang
- University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Reno NV 89557
- Prestige Biopharma, 11-12F, 44, Myongjigukje7-ro, Gangseo-gu, Busan, South Korea 67264
| | - Jinsil Choi
- University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Reno NV 89557
| | | | | | | | - Ebenezer N. Yamoah
- University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Reno NV 89557
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8
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Li X, Morgan C, Nadar‐Ponniah PT, Kolanus W, Doetzlhofer A. TRIM71 reactivation enhances the mitotic and hair cell-forming potential of cochlear supporting cells. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e56562. [PMID: 37492931 PMCID: PMC10481673 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202256562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cochlear hair cell loss is a leading cause of deafness in humans. Neighboring supporting cells have some capacity to regenerate hair cells. However, their regenerative potential sharply declines as supporting cells undergo maturation (postnatal day 5 in mice). We recently reported that reactivation of the RNA-binding protein LIN28B restores the hair cell-regenerative potential of P5 cochlear supporting cells. Here, we identify the LIN28B target Trim71 as a novel and equally potent enhancer of supporting cell plasticity. TRIM71 is a critical regulator of stem cell behavior and cell reprogramming; however, its role in cell regeneration is poorly understood. Employing an organoid-based assay, we show that TRIM71 re-expression increases the mitotic and hair cell-forming potential of P5 cochlear supporting cells by facilitating their de-differentiation into progenitor-like cells. Our mechanistic work indicates that TRIM71's RNA-binding activity is essential for such ability, and our transcriptomic analysis identifies gene modules that are linked to TRIM71 and LIN28B-mediated supporting cell reprogramming. Furthermore, our study uncovers that the TRIM71-LIN28B target Hmga2 is essential for supporting cell self-renewal and hair cell formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao‐Jun Li
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of NeuroscienceJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
- Present address:
Frontier Institute of Science and TechnologyXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710054China
| | - Charles Morgan
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of NeuroscienceJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Prathamesh T Nadar‐Ponniah
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of NeuroscienceJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Waldemar Kolanus
- Molecular Immunology and Cell Biology, Life & Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES)University of BonnBonnGermany
| | - Angelika Doetzlhofer
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of NeuroscienceJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
- Department of Otolaryngology and Center for Hearing and BalanceJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
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9
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Laureano A, Kim J, Martinez E, Kwan KY. Chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 4 in cell fate decisions. Hear Res 2023; 436:108813. [PMID: 37329862 PMCID: PMC10463912 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2023.108813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Loss of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) in the cochlea causes hearing loss. Understanding the mechanisms of cell fate transition accelerates efforts that employ directed differentiation and lineage conversion to repopulate lost SGNs. Proposed strategies to regenerate SGNs rely on altering cell fate by activating transcriptional regulatory networks, but repressing networks for alternative cell lineages is also essential. Epigenomic changes during cell fate transitions suggest that CHD4 represses gene expression by altering the chromatin status. Despite limited direct investigations, human genetic studies implicate CHD4 function in the inner ear. The possibility of CHD4 in suppressing alternative cell fates to promote inner ear regeneration is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Laureano
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jihyun Kim
- Department of Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Nelson Labs D250 604 Allison Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; Stem Cell Research Center and Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Edward Martinez
- Department of Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Nelson Labs D250 604 Allison Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; Stem Cell Research Center and Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Kelvin Y Kwan
- Department of Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Nelson Labs D250 604 Allison Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; Stem Cell Research Center and Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
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10
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Veithen M, Huyghe A, Van Den Ackerveken P, Fukada SI, Kokubo H, Breuskin I, Nguyen L, Delacroix L, Malgrange B. Sox9 Inhibits Cochlear Hair Cell Fate by Upregulating Hey1 and HeyL Antagonists of Atoh1. Cells 2023; 12:2148. [PMID: 37681879 PMCID: PMC10486728 DOI: 10.3390/cells12172148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
It is widely accepted that cell fate determination in the cochlea is tightly controlled by different transcription factors (TFs) that remain to be fully defined. Here, we show that Sox9, initially expressed in the entire sensory epithelium of the cochlea, progressively disappears from differentiating hair cells (HCs) and is finally restricted to supporting cells (SCs). By performing ex vivo electroporation of E13.5-E14.5 cochleae, we demonstrate that maintenance of Sox9 expression in the progenitors committed to HC fate blocks their differentiation, even if co-expressed with Atoh1, a transcription factor necessary and sufficient to form HC. Sox9 inhibits Atoh1 transcriptional activity by upregulating Hey1 and HeyL antagonists, and genetic ablation of these genes induces extra HCs along the cochlea. Although Sox9 suppression from sensory progenitors ex vivo leads to a modest increase in the number of HCs, it is not sufficient in vivo to induce supernumerary HC production in an inducible Sox9 knockout model. Taken together, these data show that Sox9 is downregulated from nascent HCs to allow the unfolding of their differentiation program. This may be critical for future strategies to promote fully mature HC formation in regeneration approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Veithen
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium; (M.V.); (A.H.); (P.V.D.A.); (I.B.); (L.D.)
| | - Aurélia Huyghe
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium; (M.V.); (A.H.); (P.V.D.A.); (I.B.); (L.D.)
| | - Priscilla Van Den Ackerveken
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium; (M.V.); (A.H.); (P.V.D.A.); (I.B.); (L.D.)
| | - So-ichiro Fukada
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Regeneration and Adaptation, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan;
| | - Hiroki Kokubo
- Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minamiku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan;
| | - Ingrid Breuskin
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium; (M.V.); (A.H.); (P.V.D.A.); (I.B.); (L.D.)
| | - Laurent Nguyen
- Laboratory of Molecular Regulation of Neurogenesis, GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium;
| | - Laurence Delacroix
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium; (M.V.); (A.H.); (P.V.D.A.); (I.B.); (L.D.)
| | - Brigitte Malgrange
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, GIGA-Neurosciences, University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium; (M.V.); (A.H.); (P.V.D.A.); (I.B.); (L.D.)
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11
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Ebeid M, Kishimoto I, Roy P, Zaidi MAA, Cheng AG, Huh SH. β-Catenin transcriptional activity is required for establishment of inner pillar cell identity during cochlear development. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010925. [PMID: 37639482 PMCID: PMC10491406 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian cochlea is composed of sensory hair cells as well as multiple different types of non-sensory supporting cells. Pillar cells are one type of supporting cell that form the tunnel of Corti and include two morphologically and functionally distinct subtypes: inner pillar cells (IPCs) and outer pillar cells (OPCs). The processes of specification and differentiation of inner versus outer pillar cells are still unclear. Here, we show that β-Catenin is required for establishing IPC identity in the mammalian cochlea. To differentiate the transcriptional and adhesion roles of β-Catenin in establishing IPC identity, we examined two different models of β-Catenin deletion; one that deletes both transcriptional and structural functions and one which retains cell adhesion function but lacks transcriptional function. Here, we show that cochleae lacking β-Catenin transcriptional function lost IPCs and displayed extranumerary OPCs, indicating its requirement for establishing IPC identity. Overexpression of β-Catenin induced proliferation within IPCs but not ectopic IPCs. Single-cell transcriptomes of supporting cells lacking β-Catenin transcriptional function show a loss of the IPC and gain of OPC signatures. Finally, targeted deletion of β-Catenin in IPCs also led to the loss of IPC identity, indicating a cell autonomous role of β-Catenin in establishing IPC identity. As IPCs have the capacity to regenerate sensory hair cells in the postnatal cochlea, our results will aid in future IPC-based hair cell regeneration strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Ebeid
- Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Ippei Kishimoto
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Pooja Roy
- Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Mohd Ali Abbas Zaidi
- Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Alan G. Cheng
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Sung-Ho Huh
- Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, United States of America
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12
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Xiao Y, Li D. The role of epigenetic modifications in sensory hair cell development, survival, and regulation. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1210279. [PMID: 37388412 PMCID: PMC10300351 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1210279] [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: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The cochlea is the sensory organ in the periphery, and hair cells are its main sensory cells. The development and survival of hair cells are highly controlled processes. When cells face intracellular and environmental stimuli, epigenetic regulation controls the structure and function of the genome in response to different cell fates. During sensory hair cell development, different histone modifications can induce normal numbers of functional hair cells to generate. When individuals are exposed to environmental-related hair cell damage, epigenetic modification also plays a significant role in the regulation of hair cell fate. Since mammalian hair cells cannot regenerate, their loss can cause permanent sensorineural hearing loss. Many breakthroughs have been achieved in recent years in understanding the signaling pathways that determine hair cell regeneration, and it is fascinating to note that epigenetic regulation plays a significant role in hair cell regeneration. In this review, we discuss the role of epigenetics in inner ear cell development, survival and regeneration and the significant impact on hearing protection.
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13
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Quan YZ, Wei W, Ergin V, Rameshbabu A, Huang M, Tian C, Saladi S, Indzhykulian A, Chen ZY. Reprogramming by drug-like molecules leads to regeneration of cochlear hair cell-like cells in adult mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2215253120. [PMID: 37068229 PMCID: PMC10151514 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2215253120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Strategies to overcome irreversible cochlear hair cell (HC) damage and loss in mammals are of vital importance to hearing recovery in patients with permanent hearing loss. In mature mammalian cochlea, co-activation of Myc and Notch1 reprograms supporting cells (SC) and promotes HC regeneration. Understanding of the underlying mechanisms may aid the development of a clinically relevant approach to achieve HC regeneration in the nontransgenic mature cochlea. By single-cell RNAseq, we show that MYC/NICD "rejuvenates" the adult mouse cochlea by activating multiple pathways including Wnt and cyclase activator of cyclic AMP (cAMP), whose blockade suppresses HC-like cell regeneration despite Myc/Notch activation. We screened and identified a combination (the cocktail) of drug-like molecules composing of small molecules and small interfering RNAs to activate the pathways of Myc, Notch1, Wnt and cAMP. We show that the cocktail effectively replaces Myc and Notch1 transgenes and reprograms fully mature wild-type (WT) SCs for HC-like cells regeneration in vitro. Finally, we demonstrate the cocktail is capable of reprogramming adult cochlea for HC-like cells regeneration in WT mice with HC loss in vivo. Our study identifies a strategy by a clinically relevant approach to reprogram mature inner ear for HC-like cells regeneration, laying the foundation for hearing restoration by HC regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Zhou Quan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA02114
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA02114
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Necks, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang110004, China
| | - Volkan Ergin
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA02114
| | - Arun Prabhu Rameshbabu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA02114
| | - Mingqian Huang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA02114
| | - Chunjie Tian
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA02114
| | - Srinivas Vinod Saladi
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA02142
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02114
| | - Artur A. Indzhykulian
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA02114
| | - Zheng-Yi Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA02114
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14
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Wang Y, Zhang C, Peng W, Du H, Xi Y, Xu Z. RBM24 is required for mouse hair cell development through regulating pre-mRNA alternative splicing and mRNA stability. J Cell Physiol 2023; 238:1095-1110. [PMID: 36947695 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.31003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
As the sensory receptor cells in vertebrate inner ear and lateral lines, hair cells are characterized by the hair bundle that consists of one tubulin-based kinocilium and dozens of actin-based stereocilia on the apical surface of each hair cell. Hair cell development is tightly regulated, and deficits in this process usually lead to hearing loss and/or balance dysfunctions. RNA-binding motif protein 24 (RBM24) is an RNA-binding protein that is specifically expressed in the hair cells in the inner ear. Previously, we showed that RBM24 affects hair cell development in zebrafish by regulating messenger RNA (mRNA) stability. In the present work, we further investigate the role of RBM24 in hearing and balance using conditional knockout mice. Our results show that Rbm24 knockout results in severe hearing and balance deficits. Hair cell development is significantly affected in Rbm24 knockout cochlea, as the hair bundles are poorly developed and eventually degenerated. Hair bundle disorganization is also observed in Rbm24 knockout vestibular hair cells, although to a lesser extent. Consistently, significant hair cell loss is observed in the cochlea but not vestibule. RNAseq analysis identified several genes whose mRNA stability or pre-mRNA alternative splicing is affected by Rbm24 knockout. Among them are Cdh23, Pcdh15, and Myo7a, which have been shown to play important roles in stereocilia development as well as mechano-electrical transduction. Taken together, our present work suggests that RBM24 is required for mouse hair cell development through regulating pre-mRNA alternative splicing as well as mRNA stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfei Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Cuiqiao Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Wu Peng
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Haibo Du
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yuehui Xi
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Zhigang Xu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of Cell Biology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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15
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Impaired tectorial membrane and ribbon synapse maturation in the cochlea of mice with congenital hypothyroidism. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 655:68-74. [PMID: 36933309 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Thyroid hormone deficiency can lead to abnormal auditory development of varying severity. Retardation of morphological development, including delays in degeneration of Kölliker's organ and subsequent delayed formation of the inner sulcus, along with delayed opening of the tunnel of Corti and malformation of the tectorial membrane, was consistently observed in an antithyroid drug-induced congenital hypothyroidism rodent model. Abnormal morphological development could partly explain impaired adult auditory function. However, whether the development of inner hair cell ribbon synapses is influenced by hypothyroidism remains unclear. In the present study, we characterize the normal degeneration pattern of Kölliker's organ along the basal-to-apical axis. Then, we verified the retardation of morphological development in congenital hypothyroid mice. Using this model, we found that twisted collagen is present in the major tectorial membrane and delayed separation from supporting cells affects the minor tectorial membrane. Finally, we found that the number of synaptic ribbons was not significantly altered but the ribbon synapse maturation process was significantly impaired in congenital hypothyroid mice. We conclude that thyroid hormone is involved in structural development of the tectorial membrane and the ribbon synapse maturation process.
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16
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Li XJ, Morgan C, Nadar-Ponniah PT, Kolanus W, Doetzlhofer A. Reactivation of the progenitor gene Trim71 enhances the mitotic and hair cell-forming potential of cochlear supporting cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.12.523802. [PMID: 36711735 PMCID: PMC9882147 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.12.523802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Cochlear hair cell loss is a leading cause of deafness in humans. Neighboring supporting cells have some capacity to regenerate hair cells. However, their regenerative potential sharply declines as supporting cells undergo maturation (postnatal day 5 in mice). We recently reported that reactivation of the RNA-binding protein LIN28B restores the hair cell-regenerative potential of P5 cochlear supporting cells. Here, we identify the LIN28B target Trim71 as a novel and equally potent enhancer of supporting cell plasticity. TRIM71 is a critical regulator of stem cell behavior and cell reprogramming, however, its role in cell regeneration is poorly understood. Employing an organoid-based assay, we show that TRIM71 reactivation increases the mitotic and hair cell-forming potential of P5 cochlear supporting cells by facilitating their de-differentiation into progenitor-like cells. Our mechanistic work indicates that TRIM71’s RNA-binding activity is essential for such ability, and our transcriptomic analysis identifies gene modules that are linked to TRIM71 and LIN28B-mediated supporting cell reprogramming. Furthermore, our study uncovers that the TRIM71-LIN28B target Hmga2 is essential for supporting cell self-renewal and hair cell formation.
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17
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Wijesinghe P, Sastry A, Hui E, Cogan TA, Zheng B, Ho G, Kakal J, Nunez DA. Adult porcine (Sus scrofa) derived inner ear cells: Characteristics in in-vitro cultures. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2023. [PMID: 36598271 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
There is a need for an animal model that closely parallels human cochlea gestational development. This study aims to document porcine inner ear anatomy, and in vitro porcine derived inner ear cell culture characteristics. Twenty-four temporal bone were harvested from 12 adult pigs (Sus scrofa). Six were formalin fixed and their maximal diameters were measured. The cochlea duct length was determined by the insertion length of a Nucleus 22 cochlear implant in two bones. Four formalin fixed bones were sectioned for histology. Cochlear and vestibular tissues were harvested from non-fixed bones, cultured and characterized at different passages (P). Gene and protein expression of multipotent stem/progenitor (Nestin and Sox2), inner ear hair (Myosin VIIa, Prestin) and supporting (Cytokeratin 18 and Vimentin) cell markers were determined. The porcine cochlea was a 3.5 turn spiral. There was a separate vestibular compartment. The cochlear mean maximal diameter and height was 7.99 and 3.77 mm, respectively. Sphere forming cells were identified on phase-contrast microscopy. The relative mRNA expression levels of KRT18, MYO7A and SLC26A5 were significantly positively correlated in cochlear cultures; and MYO7A and SLC26A5; SOX2 and KRT18; NES and SLC26A5 genes were positively correlated in vestibular cultures (p = .037, Spearman correlation [τ] = .900). Inner ear sensory and stem cell characteristics persist in passaged porcine inner ear cells. Further work is required to establish the usefulness of porcine inner ear cell cultures to the study of human inner ear disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Printha Wijesinghe
- Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Anand Sastry
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Elizabeth Hui
- Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Tristan A Cogan
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Boyuan Zheng
- Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Germain Ho
- Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Juzer Kakal
- Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Desmond A Nunez
- Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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18
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Balendran V, Ritter KE, Martin DM. Epigenetic mechanisms of inner ear development. Hear Res 2022; 426:108440. [PMID: 35063312 PMCID: PMC9276839 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2022.108440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic factors are critically important for embryonic and postnatal development. Over the past decade, substantial technological advancements have occurred that now permit the study of epigenetic mechanisms that govern all aspects of inner ear development, from otocyst patterning to maturation and maintenance of hair cell stereocilia. In this review, we highlight how three major classes of epigenetic regulation (DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling) are essential for the development of the inner ear. We highlight open avenues for research and discuss how new tools enable the employment of epigenetic factors in regenerative and therapeutic approaches for hearing and balance disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinodh Balendran
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - K Elaine Ritter
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical Center Drive, University of Michigan Medical School, 8220C MSRB III, 1150 W, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5652, United States
| | - Donna M Martin
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Medical Center Drive, University of Michigan Medical School, 8220C MSRB III, 1150 W, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5652, United States; Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
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19
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Iyer AA, Hosamani I, Nguyen JD, Cai T, Singh S, McGovern MM, Beyer L, Zhang H, Jen HI, Yousaf R, Birol O, Sun JJ, Ray RS, Raphael Y, Segil N, Groves AK. Cellular reprogramming with ATOH1, GFI1, and POU4F3 implicate epigenetic changes and cell-cell signaling as obstacles to hair cell regeneration in mature mammals. eLife 2022; 11:e79712. [PMID: 36445327 PMCID: PMC9708077 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Reprogramming of the cochlea with hair-cell-specific transcription factors such as ATOH1 has been proposed as a potential therapeutic strategy for hearing loss. ATOH1 expression in the developing cochlea can efficiently induce hair cell regeneration but the efficiency of hair cell reprogramming declines rapidly as the cochlea matures. We developed Cre-inducible mice to compare hair cell reprogramming with ATOH1 alone or in combination with two other hair cell transcription factors, GFI1 and POU4F3. In newborn mice, all transcription factor combinations tested produced large numbers of cells with the morphology of hair cells and rudimentary mechanotransduction properties. However, 1 week later, only a combination of ATOH1, GFI1 and POU4F3 could reprogram non-sensory cells of the cochlea to a hair cell fate, and these new cells were less mature than cells generated by reprogramming 1 week earlier. We used scRNA-seq and combined scRNA-seq and ATAC-seq to suggest at least two impediments to hair cell reprogramming in older animals. First, hair cell gene loci become less epigenetically accessible in non-sensory cells of the cochlea with increasing age. Second, signaling from hair cells to supporting cells, including Notch signaling, can prevent reprogramming of many supporting cells to hair cells, even with three hair cell transcription factors. Our results shed light on the molecular barriers that must be overcome to promote hair cell regeneration in the adult cochlea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrita A Iyer
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Ishwar Hosamani
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - John D Nguyen
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology at USCLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Tiantian Cai
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Sunita Singh
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Melissa M McGovern
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Lisa Beyer
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Hongyuan Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Hsin-I Jen
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Rizwan Yousaf
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Onur Birol
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Jenny J Sun
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Russell S Ray
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
| | - Yehoash Raphael
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Neil Segil
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology at USCLos AngelesUnited States
- Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Andrew K Groves
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUnited States
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20
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Costa A, Powell LM, Malaguti M, Soufi A, Lowell S, Jarman AP. Repurposing the lineage-determining transcription factor Atoh1 without redistributing its genomic binding sites. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1016367. [PMID: 36420143 PMCID: PMC9676683 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1016367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the lineage-determining ability of transcription factors is often modulated according to cellular context, the mechanisms by which such switching occurs are not well known. Using a transcriptional programming model, we found that Atoh1 is repurposed from a neuronal to an inner ear hair cell (HC) determinant by the combined activities of Gfi1 and Pou4f3. In this process, Atoh1 maintains its regulation of neuronal genes but gains ability to regulate HC genes. Pou4f3 enables Atoh1 access to genomic locations controlling the expression of sensory (including HC) genes, but Atoh1 + Pou4f3 are not sufficient for HC differentiation. Gfi1 is key to the Atoh1-induced lineage switch, but surprisingly does not alter Atoh1's binding profile. Gfi1 acts in two divergent ways. It represses the induction by Atoh1 of genes that antagonise HC differentiation, a function in keeping with its well-known repressor role in haematopoiesis. Remarkably, we find that Gfi1 also acts as a co-activator: it binds directly to Atoh1 at existing target genes to enhance its activity. These findings highlight the diversity of mechanisms by which one TF can redirect the activity of another to enable combinatorial control of cell identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Costa
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lynn M. Powell
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Mattias Malaguti
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Abdenour Soufi
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sally Lowell
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew P. Jarman
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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21
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Sufu- and Spop-mediated regulation of Gli2 is essential for the control of mammalian cochlear hair cell differentiation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2206571119. [PMID: 36252002 PMCID: PMC9618052 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2206571119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of mammalian auditory epithelium, the organ of Corti, requires precise control of both cell cycle withdrawal and differentiation. Sensory progenitors (prosensory cells) in the cochlear apex exit the cell cycle first but differentiate last. Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling is required for the spatiotemporal regulation of prosensory cell differentiation, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we show that suppressor of fused (Sufu), a negative regulator of Shh signaling, is essential for controlling the timing and progression of hair cell (HC) differentiation. Removal of Sufu leads to abnormal Atoh1 expression and a severe delay of HC differentiation due to elevated Gli2 mRNA expression. Later in development, HC differentiation defects are restored in the Sufu mutant by the action of speckle-type PDZ protein (Spop), which promotes Gli2 protein degradation. Deletion of both Sufu and Spop results in robust Gli2 activation, exacerbating HC differentiation defects. We further demonstrate that Gli2 inhibits HC differentiation through maintaining the progenitor state of Sox2+ prosensory cells. Along the basal-apical axis of the developing cochlea, the Sox2 expression level is higher in the progenitor cells than in differentiating cells and is down-regulated from base to apex as differentiation proceeds. The dynamic spatiotemporal change of Sox2 expression levels is controlled by Shh signaling through Gli2. Together, our results reveal key functions of Gli2 in sustaining the progenitor state, thereby preventing HC differentiation and in turn governing the basal-apical progression of HC differentiation in the cochlea.
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22
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Chen J, Gao D, Sun L, Yang J. Kölliker’s organ-supporting cells and cochlear auditory development. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1031989. [PMID: 36304996 PMCID: PMC9592740 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1031989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Kölliker’s organ is a transient cellular cluster structure in the development of the mammalian cochlea. It gradually degenerates from embryonic columnar cells to cuboidal cells in the internal sulcus at postnatal day 12 (P12)–P14, with the cochlea maturing when the degeneration of supporting cells in the Kölliker’s organ is complete, which is distinct from humans because it disappears at birth already. The supporting cells in the Kölliker’s organ play a key role during this critical period of auditory development. Spontaneous release of ATP induces an increase in intracellular Ca2+ levels in inner hair cells in a paracrine form via intercellular gap junction protein hemichannels. The Ca2+ further induces the release of the neurotransmitter glutamate from the synaptic vesicles of the inner hair cells, which subsequently excite afferent nerve fibers. In this way, the supporting cells in the Kölliker’s organ transmit temporal and spatial information relevant to cochlear development to the hair cells, promoting fine-tuned connections at the synapses in the auditory pathway, thus facilitating cochlear maturation and auditory acquisition. The Kölliker’s organ plays a crucial role in such a scenario. In this article, we review the morphological changes, biological functions, degeneration, possible trans-differentiation of cochlear hair cells, and potential molecular mechanisms of supporting cells in the Kölliker’s organ during the auditory development in mammals, as well as future research perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyong Chen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Ear Science, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology and Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dekun Gao
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Ear Science, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology and Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lianhua Sun
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Ear Science, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology and Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Lianhua Sun Jun Yang
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Ear Science, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology and Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Lianhua Sun Jun Yang
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23
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Ebeid M, Barnas K, Zhang H, Yaghmour A, Noreikaite G, Bjork BC. PRDM16 expression and function in mammalian cochlear development. Dev Dyn 2022; 251:1666-1683. [PMID: 35451126 PMCID: PMC9790675 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND PR domain containing 16 (PRDM16) is a key transcriptional regulator in the development of craniofacial, adipose, and neural tissues. Our lab identified PRDM16 expression in the epithelial cells of the Kölliker's organ (KO) that starts at ~E13.5 and is maintained until KO disappearance. A transgenic mouse model that carries a gene trap null allele of Prdm16 (Prdm16cGT ) was used to characterize the impact of Prdm16 loss on cochlear development. RESULTS At P0 Prdm16cGT null cochlea exhibited hypoplastic KO, shortened cochlear duct, increased density of hair cells (HCs) and supporting cells (SCs) in the apical turn as well as multiple isolated ectopic HCs within the KO domain. KO epithelial cells proliferation rate was reduced in the apical turn of the developing Prdm16cGT null cochlea vs controls. Bulk RNA sequencing of cochlear duct cells at E14.5 followed by quantitative real time PCR and mRNA Fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) validation identified differentially expressed genes in Prdm16cGT null vs littermate control cochleae. Upregulated genes at E14.5 included Fgf20, as well as several Notch pathway genes (Lfng, Hes1, and Jag1). CONCLUSIONS This study characterizes Prdm16 expression during cochlear development and establishes its requirement for KO development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Ebeid
- College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern UniversityDowners GroveIllinoisUSA,Department of AnatomyMidwestern UniversityDowners GroveIllinoisUSA,Chicago College of Osteopathic MedicineMidwestern UniversityDowners GroveIllinoisUSA
| | - Kathy Barnas
- Biomedical Sciences ProgramMidwestern UniversityDowners GroveIllinoisUSA
| | - Hongji Zhang
- Department of AnatomyMidwestern UniversityDowners GroveIllinoisUSA
| | - Amal Yaghmour
- Biomedical Sciences ProgramMidwestern UniversityDowners GroveIllinoisUSA
| | - Gabriele Noreikaite
- Chicago College of Osteopathic MedicineMidwestern UniversityDowners GroveIllinoisUSA
| | - Bryan C. Bjork
- College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern UniversityDowners GroveIllinoisUSA
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24
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Abstract
Cochlear hair cells (HCs) in the inner ear are responsible for sound detection. For HC fate specification, the master transcription factor Atoh1 is both necessary and sufficient. Atoh1 expression is dynamic and tightly regulated during development, but the cis-regulatory elements mediating this regulation remain unresolved. Unexpectedly, we found that deleting the only recognized Atoh1 enhancer, defined here as Eh1, failed to impair HC development. By using the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq), we discovered two additional Atoh1 enhancers: Eh2 and Eh3. Notably, Eh2 deletion was sufficient for impairing HC development, and concurrent deletion of Eh1 and Eh2 or all three enhancers resulted in nearly complete absence of HCs. Lastly, we showed that Atoh1 binds to all three enhancers, consistent with its autoregulatory function. Our findings reveal that the cooperative action of three distinct enhancers underpins effective Atoh1 regulation during HC development, indicating potential therapeutic approaches for HC regeneration.
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25
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Kelley MW. Cochlear Development; New Tools and Approaches. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:884240. [PMID: 35813214 PMCID: PMC9260282 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.884240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The sensory epithelium of the mammalian cochlea, the organ of Corti, is comprised of at least seven unique cell types including two functionally distinct types of mechanosensory hair cells. All of the cell types within the organ of Corti are believed to develop from a population of precursor cells referred to as prosensory cells. Results from previous studies have begun to identify the developmental processes, lineage restrictions and signaling networks that mediate the specification of many of these cell types, however, the small size of the organ and the limited number of each cell type has hampered progress. Recent technical advances, in particular relating to the ability to capture and characterize gene expression at the single cell level, have opened new avenues for understanding cellular specification in the organ of Corti. This review will cover our current understanding of cellular specification in the cochlea, discuss the most commonly used methods for single cell RNA sequencing and describe how results from a recent study using single cell sequencing provided new insights regarding cellular specification.
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26
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Abstract
It is well established that humans and other mammals are minimally regenerative compared with organisms such as zebrafish, salamander or amphibians. In recent years, however, the identification of regenerative potential in neonatal mouse tissues that normally heal poorly in adults has transformed our understanding of regenerative capacity in mammals. In this Review, we survey the mammalian tissues for which regenerative or improved neonatal healing has been established, including the heart, cochlear hair cells, the brain and spinal cord, and dense connective tissues. We also highlight common and/or tissue-specific mechanisms of neonatal regeneration, which involve cells, signaling pathways, extracellular matrix, immune cells and other factors. The identification of such common features across neonatal tissues may direct therapeutic strategies that will be broadly applicable to multiple adult tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alice H. Huang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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27
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Hinton AS, Yang-Hood A, Schrader AD, Loose C, Ohlemiller KK, McLean WJ. Approaches to Treat Sensorineural Hearing Loss by Hair-Cell Regeneration: The Current State of Therapeutic Developments and Their Potential Impact on Audiological Clinical Practice. J Am Acad Audiol 2022; 32:661-669. [PMID: 35609593 PMCID: PMC9129918 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1750281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is typically a permanent and often progressive condition that is commonly attributed to sensory cell loss. All vertebrates except mammals can regenerate lost sensory cells. Thus, SNHL is currently only treated with hearing aids or cochlear implants. There has been extensive research to understand how regeneration occurs in nonmammals, how hair cells form during development, and what limits regeneration in maturing mammals. These studies motivated efforts to identify therapeutic interventions to regenerate hair cells as a treatment for hearing loss, with a focus on targeting supporting cells to form new sensory hair cells. The approaches include gene therapy and small molecule delivery to the inner ear. At the time of this publication, early-stage clinical trials have been conducted to test targets that have shown evidence of regenerating sensory hair cells in preclinical models. As these potential treatments move closer to a clinical reality, it will be important to understand which therapeutic option is most appropriate for a given population. It is also important to consider which audiological tests should be administered to identify hearing improvement while considering the pharmacokinetics and mechanism of a given approach. Some impacts on audiological practice could include implementing less common audiological measures as standard procedure. As devices are not capable of repairing the damaged underlying biology, hair-cell regeneration treatments could allow patients to benefit more from their devices, move from a cochlear implant candidate to a hearing aid candidate, or move a subject to not needing an assistive device. Here, we describe the background, current state, and future implications of hair-cell regeneration research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aizhen Yang-Hood
- Department of Otolaryngology, Central Institute for the Deaf, Fay and Carl Simons Center for Hearing and Deafness, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
| | - Angela D Schrader
- Department of Otolaryngology, Central Institute for the Deaf, Fay and Carl Simons Center for Hearing and Deafness, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
| | | | - Kevin K Ohlemiller
- Department of Otolaryngology, Central Institute for the Deaf, Fay and Carl Simons Center for Hearing and Deafness, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
| | - Will J McLean
- Frequency Therapeutics, Lexington, Massachusetts.,Department of Surgery, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
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28
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Lewis RM. From Bench to Booth: Examining Hair-Cell Regeneration Through an Audiologist's Scope. J Am Acad Audiol 2022; 32:654-660. [PMID: 35609592 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1731700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Damage to auditory hair cells is a key feature of sensorineural hearing loss due to aging, noise exposure, or ototoxic drugs. Though hair-cell loss is permanent in humans, research in bird species led to the discovery that analogous hair cells of the avian basilar papilla are able to regenerate after being damaged by ototoxic agents. Regeneration appears to occur through a combination of the mitotic expansion of a precursor population of supporting cells and direct transdifferentiation of supporting cells into functioning hair cells. This review will synthesize the relevant anatomy and pathophysiology of sensorineural hearing loss, the historical observations that led to the genesis of the hair-cell regeneration field, and perspectives on initial human hair-cell regeneration trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Lewis
- Whisper.ai, Department of Clinical Research, San Francisco, California.,Georgetown University Medical Center, Department of Neuroscience, Washington, D.C
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29
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Liu SS, Yang R. Inner Ear Drug Delivery for Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Current Challenges and Opportunities. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:867453. [PMID: 35685768 PMCID: PMC9170894 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.867453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Most therapies for treating sensorineural hearing loss are challenged by the delivery across multiple tissue barriers to the hard-to-access anatomical location of the inner ear. In this review, we will provide a recent update on various pharmacotherapy, gene therapy, and cell therapy approaches used in clinical and preclinical studies for the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss and approaches taken to overcome the drug delivery barriers in the ear. Small-molecule drugs for pharmacotherapy can be delivered via systemic or local delivery, where the blood-labyrinth barrier hinders the former and tissue barriers including the tympanic membrane, the round window membrane, and/or the oval window hinder the latter. Meanwhile, gene and cell therapies often require targeted delivery to the cochlea, which is currently achieved via intra-cochlear or intra-labyrinthine injection. To improve the stability of the biomacromolecules during treatment, e.g., RNAs, DNAs, proteins, additional packing vehicles are often required. To address the diverse range of biological barriers involved in inner ear drug delivery, each class of therapy and the intended therapeutic cargoes will be discussed in this review, in the context of delivery routes commonly used, delivery vehicles if required (e.g., viral and non-viral nanocarriers), and other strategies to improve drug permeation and sustained release (e.g., hydrogel, nanocarriers, permeation enhancers, and microfluidic systems). Overall, this review aims to capture the important advancements and key steps in the development of inner ear therapies and delivery strategies over the past two decades for the treatment and prophylaxis of sensorineural hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie S. Liu
- Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Rong Yang
- Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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30
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GFI1 regulates hair cell differentiation by acting as an off-DNA transcriptional co-activator of ATOH1, and a DNA-binding repressor. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7793. [PMID: 35551236 PMCID: PMC9098437 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11931-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
GFI1 is a zinc finger transcription factor that is necessary for the differentiation and survival of hair cells in the cochlea. Deletion of Gfi1 in mice significantly reduces the expression of hundreds of hair cell genes: this is a surprising result, as GFI1 normally acts as a transcriptional repressor by recruiting histone demethylases and methyltransferases to its targets. To understand the mechanisms by which GFI1 promotes hair cell differentiation, we used CUT&RUN to identify the direct targets of GFI1 and ATOH1 in hair cells. We found that GFI1 regulates hair cell differentiation in two distinct ways—first, GFI1 and ATOH1 can bind to the same regulatory elements in hair cell genes, but while ATOH1 directly binds its target DNA motifs in many of these regions, GFI1 does not. Instead, it appears to enhance ATOH1’s transcriptional activity by acting as part of a complex in which it does not directly bind DNA. Second, GFI1 can act in its more typical role as a direct, DNA-binding transcriptional repressor in hair cells; here it represses non-hair cell genes, including many neuronal genes. Together, our results illuminate the function of GFI1 in hair cell development and hair cell reprogramming strategies.
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31
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Huang Y, Mao H, Chen Y. Regeneration of Hair Cells in the Human Vestibular System. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:854635. [PMID: 35401109 PMCID: PMC8987309 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.854635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The vestibular system is a critical part of the human balance system, malfunction of this system will lead to balance disorders, such as vertigo. Mammalian vestibular hair cells, the mechanical receptors for vestibular function, are sensitive to ototoxic drugs and virus infection, and have a limited restorative capacity after damage. Considering that no artificial device can be used to replace vestibular hair cells, promoting vestibular hair cell regeneration is an ideal way for vestibular function recovery. In this manuscript, the development of human vestibular hair cells during the whole embryonic stage and the latest research on human vestibular hair cell regeneration is summarized. The limitations of current studies are emphasized and future directions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yikang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, ENT Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huanyu Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, ENT Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, ENT Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yan Chen,
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32
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Chen J, Gao D, Chen J, Hou S, He B, Li Y, Li S, Zhang F, Sun X, Jin Y, Sun L, Yang J. Pseudo-Temporal Analysis of Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Reveals Trans-Differentiation Potential of Greater Epithelial Ridge Cells Into Hair Cells During Postnatal Development of Cochlea in Rats. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:832813. [PMID: 35370544 PMCID: PMC8966675 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.832813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The hair cells of the cochlea play a decisive role in the process of hearing damage and recovery, yet knowledge of their regeneration process is still limited. Greater epithelial ridge (GER) cells, a type of cell present during cochlear development that has the characteristics of a precursor sensory cell, disappear at the time of maturation of hearing development. Its development and evolution remain mysterious for many years. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing to profile the gene expression landscapes of rats’ cochlear basal membrane from P1, P7, and P14 and identified eight major subtypes of GER cells. Furthermore, single-cell trajectory analysis for GER cells and hair cells indicated that among the different subtypes of GER, four subtypes had transient cell proliferation after birth and could transdifferentiate into inner and outer hair cells, and two of them mainly transdifferentiated into inner hair cells. The other two subtypes eventually transdifferentiate into outer hair cells. Our study lays the groundwork for elucidating the mechanisms of the key regulatory genes and signaling pathways in the trans-differentiation of GER cell subtypes into hair cells and provides potential clues to understand hair cell regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyong Chen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Ear Science, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology and Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dekun Gao
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Ear Science, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology and Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Junmin Chen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Ear Science, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology and Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shule Hou
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Ear Science, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology and Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Baihui He
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Ear Science, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology and Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Ear Science, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology and Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuna Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Ear Science, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology and Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Ear Science, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology and Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiayu Sun
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Ear Science, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology and Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yulian Jin
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Ear Science, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology and Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yulian Jin,
| | - Lianhua Sun
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Ear Science, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology and Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Lianhua Sun,
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Ear Science, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology and Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Jun Yang,
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33
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Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals three sequential phases of gene expression during zebrafish sensory hair cell regeneration. Dev Cell 2022; 57:799-819.e6. [PMID: 35316618 PMCID: PMC9188816 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Loss of sensory hair cells (HCs) in the mammalian inner ear leads to permanent hearing and vestibular defects, whereas loss of HCs in zebrafish results in their regeneration. We used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to characterize the transcriptional dynamics of HC regeneration in zebrafish at unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution. We uncovered three sequentially activated modules: first, an injury/inflammatory response and downregulation of progenitor cell maintenance genes within minutes after HC loss; second, the transient activation of regeneration-specific genes; and third, a robust re-activation of developmental gene programs, including HC specification, cell-cycle activation, ribosome biogenesis, and a metabolic switch to oxidative phosphorylation. The results are relevant not only for our understanding of HC regeneration and how we might be able to trigger it in mammals but also for regenerative processes in general. The data are searchable and publicly accessible via a web-based interface.
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34
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Zhang YL, Kang M, Wu JC, Xie MY, Xue RY, Tang Q, Yang H, Li LC. Small activating RNA activation of ATOH1 promotes regeneration of human inner ear hair cells. Bioengineered 2022; 13:6729-6739. [PMID: 35246011 PMCID: PMC8974106 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2022.2045835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The loss of inner ear hair cells leads to irreversible acoustic injury in mammals, and regeneration of inner ear hair cells to restore hearing loss is challenging. ATOH1 is a key gene in the development and regeneration of hair cells. Small activating RNAs (saRNAs) can target a gene to specifically upregulate its expression. This study aimed to explore whether small activating RNAs could induce the differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells into hair cell-like cells with a combination of growth factors in vitro and thus provide a new strategy for hair cell regeneration and the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss. Fifteen small activating RNAs targeting the human ATOH1 gene were designed and screened in 293 T and human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and 3 of these candidates were found to be capable of effectively and stably activating ATOH1 gene expression. The selected small activating RNAs were then transfected into hair cell progenitor cells, and hair cell markers were examined 10 days after transfection. After transfection of the selected small activating RNAs, the expression of the characteristic markers of inner ear hair cells, POU class 4 homeobox 3 (POU4F3) and myosin VIIA (MYO7A), was detected. Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells have the potential to differentiate into human hair cell progenitor cells. In vitro, small activating RNAs were able to induce the differentiation of hair cell progenitor cells into hair cell-like cells. Therefore, RNA activation technology has the potential to provide a new strategy for the regeneration of hair cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Li Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Moorim Kang
- Ractigen Therapeutics, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | | | - Meng-Yao Xie
- Department of Otolaryngology, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ruo-Yan Xue
- Department of Otolaryngology, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Tang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Yang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Long-Cheng Li
- Ractigen Therapeutics, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.,Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
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35
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Li S, Fan T, Li C, Wang Y, Li J, Liu Z. Fate-mapping analysis of cochlear cells expressing Atoh1 mRNA via a new Atoh1 3*HA-P2A-Cre knockin mouse strain. Dev Dyn 2022; 251:1156-1174. [PMID: 35038200 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atoh1 is recognized to be essential for cochlear hair cell (HC) development. However, Atoh1 temporal and spatial expression patterns remain widely debated. Here, we aimed to obtain evidence to resolve the controversies regarding Atoh1 expression by generating a new knockin mouse strain: Atoh13*HA-P2A-Cre . RESULTS Fate-mapping analysis of Atoh13*HA-P2A-Cre/+ ; Rosa26-CAG-LSL-tdTomato (Ai9)/+ mice enabled us to concurrently characterize the temporal expression of Atoh1 protein (through HA-tag immunostaining) and visualize the cells expressing Atoh1 mRNA (as tdTomato+ cells). Our findings show that whereas Atoh1 mRNA expression is rapidly turned on in early cochlear progenitors, Atoh1 protein is only detected in differentiating HCs or progenitors just committed to the HC fate. Cre activity is also stronger in Atoh13*HA-P2A-Cre/+ than in previous mouse models, because almost all cochlear HCs and nearby supporting cells here are tdTomato+. Furthermore, tdTomato, but not HA, is expressed in middle and apical spiral ganglion neurons. CONCLUSION Collectively, our findings indicate that Atoh13*HA-P2A-Cre can serve as a powerful genetic model in the developmental biology field. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuting Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Ting Fan
- ENT Institute and Otorhinolaryngology Department, Affiliated Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunfeng Wang
- ENT Institute and Otorhinolaryngology Department, Affiliated Eye and ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Li
- Clinical Laboratory Center, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai, China
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36
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Li W, Quan Y, Huang M, Wei W, Shu Y, Li H, Chen ZY. A Novel in vitro Model Delineating Hair Cell Regeneration and Neural Reinnervation in Adult Mouse Cochlea. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 14:757831. [PMID: 35082601 PMCID: PMC8785685 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.757831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of an adult mammalian auditory system, such as regeneration, has been hampered by the lack of an in vitro system in which hypotheses can be tested efficiently. This is primarily due to the fact that the adult inner ear is encased in the toughest bone of the body, whereas its removal leads to the death of the sensory epithelium in culture. We hypothesized that we could take advantage of the integral cochlear structure to maintain the overall inner ear architecture and improve sensory epithelium survival in culture. We showed that by culturing adult mouse cochlea with the (surrounding) bone intact, the supporting cells (SCs) survived and almost all hair cells (HCs) degenerated. To evaluate the utility of the explant culture system, we demonstrated that the overexpression of Atoh1, an HC fate-determining factor, is sufficient to induce transdifferentiation of adult SCs to HC-like cells (HCLCs). Transdifferentiation-derived HCLCs resemble developmentally young HCs and are able to attract adult ganglion neurites. Furthermore, using a damage model, we showed that degenerated adult ganglions respond to regenerated HCLCs by directional neurite outgrowth that leads to HCLC-neuron contacts, strongly supporting the intrinsic properties of the HCLCs in establishing HCLC-neuron connections. The adult whole cochlear explant culture is suitable for diverse studies of the adult inner ear including regeneration, HC-neuron pathways, and inner ear drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyan Li
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, United States
- ENT Institute and Otorhinolaryngology Department of Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yizhou Quan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Mingqian Huang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Yilai Shu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, United States
- ENT Institute and Otorhinolaryngology Department of Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huawei Li
- ENT Institute and Otorhinolaryngology Department of Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Huawei Li,
| | - Zheng-Yi Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, United States
- Zheng-Yi Chen,
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37
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Xu Z, Rai V, Zuo J. TUB and ZNF532 Promote the Atoh1-Mediated Hair Cell Regeneration in Mouse Cochleae. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:759223. [PMID: 34819838 PMCID: PMC8606527 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.759223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Hair cell (HC) regeneration is a promising therapy for permanent sensorineural hearing loss caused by HC loss in mammals. Atoh1 has been shown to convert supporting cells (SCs) to HCs in neonatal cochleae; its combinations with other factors can improve the efficiency of HC regeneration. To identify additional transcription factors for efficient Atoh1-mediated HC regeneration, here we optimized the electroporation procedure for explant culture of neonatal mouse organs of Corti and tested multiple transcription factors, Six2, Ikzf2, Lbh, Arid3b, Hmg20 a, Tub, Sall1, and Znf532, for their potential to promote Atoh1-mediated conversion of SCs to HCs. These transcription factors are expressed highly in HCs but differentially compared to the converted HCs based on previous studies, and are also potential co-reprograming factors for Atoh1-mediated SC-to-HC conversion by literature review. P0.5 cochlear explants were electroporated with these transcription factors alone or jointly with Atoh1. We found that Sox2+ progenitors concentrated within the lateral greater epithelial ridge (GER) can be electroporated efficiently with minimal HC damage. Atoh1 ectopic expression promoted HC regeneration in Sox2+ lateral GER cells. Transcription factors Tub and Znf532, but not the other six tested, promoted the HC regeneration mediated by Atoh1, consistent with previous studies that Isl1 promotes Atoh1-mediated HC conversionex vivo and in vivo and that both Tub and Znf532 are downstream targets of Isl1. Thus, our studies revealed an optimized electroporation method that can transfect the Sox2+ lateral GER cells efficiently with minimal damage to the endogenous HCs. Our results also demonstrate the importance of the Isl1/Tub/Znf532 pathway in promoting Atoh1-mediated HC regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhang Xu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, United States.,Department of Otolaryngology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Vikrant Rai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Jian Zuo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE, United States
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38
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Klann M, Issa AR, Pinho S, Alonso CR. MicroRNA-Dependent Control of Sensory Neuron Function Regulates Posture Behavior in Drosophila. J Neurosci 2021; 41:8297-8308. [PMID: 34417328 PMCID: PMC8496190 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0081-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
All what we see, touch, hear, taste, or smell must first be detected by the sensory elements of our nervous system. Sensory neurons, therefore, represent a critical component in all neural circuits and their correct function is essential for the generation of behavior and adaptation to the environment. Here, we report that the evolutionarily-conserved microRNA (miRNA) miR-263b plays a key behavioral role in Drosophila melanogaster through effects on the function of larval sensory neurons. Several independent experiments (in 50:50 male:female populations) support this finding: first, miRNA expression analysis, via reporter expression and fluorescent-activated cell sorting (FACS)-quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis, demonstrate miR-263b expression in larval sensory neurons. Second, behavioral tests in miR-263b null mutants show defects in self-righting, an innate and evolutionarily conserved posture-control behavior that allows larvae to rectify their position if turned upside-down. Third, competitive inhibition of miR-263b in sensory neurons using a miR-263b "sponge" leads to self-righting defects. Fourth, systematic analysis of sensory neurons in miR-263b mutants shows no detectable morphologic defects in their stereotypic pattern, while genetically-encoded calcium sensors expressed in the sensory domain reveal a reduction in neural activity in miR-263b mutants. Fifth, miR-263b null mutants show reduced "touch-response" behavior and a compromised response to sound, both characteristic of larval sensory deficits. Furthermore, bioinformatic miRNA target analysis, gene expression assays, and behavioral phenocopy experiments suggest that miR-263b might exert its effects, at least in part, through repression of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor Atonal Altogether, our study suggests a model in which miRNA-dependent control of transcription factor expression affects sensory function and behavior.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Sensory neurons are key to neural circuit function, but how these neurons acquire their specific properties is not well understood. Here, we examine this problem, focusing on the roles played by microRNAs (miRNAs). Using Drosophila, we demonstrate that the evolutionarily-conserved miRNA miR-263b controls sensory neuron function allowing the animal to perform an adaptive, elaborate three-dimensional movement. Our work thus shows that microRNAs can control complex motor behaviors by modulating sensory neuron physiology, and suggests that similar miRNA-dependent mechanisms may operate in other species. The work contributes to advance the understanding of the molecular basis of behavior and the biological roles of microRNAs within the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marleen Klann
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, United Kingdom
| | - A Raouf Issa
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, United Kingdom
| | - Sofia Pinho
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, United Kingdom
| | - Claudio R Alonso
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, United Kingdom
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39
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Hu Z, Singh A, Bojrab D, Sim N. Insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating mammalian hair cell regeneration. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2021; 29:400-406. [PMID: 34374666 DOI: 10.1097/moo.0000000000000752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To give an overview of recent advances in mammalian auditory hair cell regeneration. RECENT FINDINGS Supporting cells act as progenitors to regenerate hair cells in the prehearing mammalian cochlea but not in the mature cochlea. To overcome this developmental obstacle, manipulation of multiple genes and intracellular pathways has been investigated, which has obtained promising data. This review focuses on recent advances in auditory hair cell regeneration, including synergic gene regulation associated with Atoh1 and Notch signaling, epigenetics, and functional recovery of regenerated hair cells. Co-manipulation of genes critical for hair cell development and cell cycle re-entry, including Atoh1, Isl1, Pou4f3, Gata3, Gfi1, P27kip1, RB, Myc, and Notch-signaling genes, has generated hair cell-like cells in the adult cochlea both in vitro and in vivo. The epigenetic mechanism has been studied in hair cell development and regeneration. Regeneration of hair cell function has a very limited progress, which lacks in-vitro and in-vivo electrophysiology data. SUMMARY Regeneration of adult auditory hair cells remains a major challenge. Manipulation of multiple genes and pathways together with epigenetic regulation might potentially regenerate functional hair cells in the adult mammalian cochlea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengqing Hu
- John D. Dingell VA Medical Center
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit
| | - Aditi Singh
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit
| | - Dennis Bojrab
- Michigan Ear Institute, Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA
| | - Nathan Sim
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit
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40
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Gómez-Dorado M, Daudet N, Gale JE, Dawson SJ. Differential regulation of mammalian and avian ATOH1 by E2F1 and its implication for hair cell regeneration in the inner ear. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19368. [PMID: 34588543 PMCID: PMC8481459 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98816-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian inner ear has a limited capacity to regenerate its mechanosensory hair cells. This lack of regenerative capacity underlies the high incidence of age-related hearing loss in humans. In contrast, non-mammalian vertebrates can form new hair cells when damage occurs, a mechanism that depends on re-activation of expression of the pro-hair cell transcription factor Atoh1. Here, we show that members of the E2F transcription factor family, known to play a key role in cell cycle progression, regulate the expression of Atoh1. E2F1 activates chicken Atoh1 by directly interacting with a cis-regulatory region distal to the avian Atoh1 gene. E2F does not activate mouse Atoh1 gene expression, since this regulatory element is absent in mammals. We also show that E2F1 expression changes dynamically in the chicken auditory epithelium during ototoxic damage and hair cell regeneration. Therefore, we propose a model in which the mitotic regeneration of non-mammalian hair cells is due to E2F1-mediated activation of Atoh1 expression, a mechanism which has been lost in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicolas Daudet
- UCL Ear Institute, 332 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8EE, UK
| | - Jonathan E Gale
- UCL Ear Institute, 332 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8EE, UK
| | - Sally J Dawson
- UCL Ear Institute, 332 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8EE, UK.
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41
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Norrie disease protein is essential for cochlear hair cell maturation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2106369118. [PMID: 34544869 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2106369118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the gene for Norrie disease protein (Ndp) cause syndromic deafness and blindness. We show here that cochlear function in an Ndp knockout mouse deteriorated with age: At P3-P4, hair cells (HCs) showed progressive loss of Pou4f3 and Gfi1, key transcription factors for HC maturation, and Myo7a, a specialized myosin required for normal function of HC stereocilia. Loss of expression of these genes correlated to increasing HC loss and profound hearing loss by 2 mo. We show that overexpression of the Ndp gene in neonatal supporting cells or, remarkably, up-regulation of canonical Wnt signaling in HCs rescued HCs and cochlear function. We conclude that Ndp secreted from supporting cells orchestrates a transcriptional network for the maintenance and survival of HCs and that increasing the level of β-catenin, the intracellular effector of Wnt signaling, is sufficient to replace the functional requirement for Ndp in the cochlea.
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42
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Kempfle JS. Endoscopic-Assisted Drug Delivery for Inner Ear Regeneration. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2021; 54:189-200. [PMID: 33243375 DOI: 10.1016/j.otc.2020.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Sensorineural hearing loss is caused by irreversible loss of auditory hair cells and/or neurons and is increasing in prevalence. Hair cells and neurons do not regenerate after damage, but novel regeneration therapies based on small molecule drugs, gene therapy, and cell replacement strategies offer promising therapeutic options. Endogenous and exogenous regeneration techniques are discussed in context of their feasibility for hair cell and neuron regeneration. Gene therapy and treatment of synaptopathy represent promising future therapies. Minimally invasive endoscopic ear surgery offers a viable approach to aid in delivery of pharmacologic compounds, cells, or viral vectors to the inner ear for all of these techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith S Kempfle
- Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, C360, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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43
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Enhancer decommissioning imposes an epigenetic barrier to sensory hair cell regeneration. Dev Cell 2021; 56:2471-2485.e5. [PMID: 34331868 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Adult mammalian tissues such as heart, brain, retina, and the sensory structures of the inner ear do not effectively regenerate, although a latent capacity for regeneration exists at embryonic and perinatal times. We explored the epigenetic basis for this latent regenerative potential in the mouse inner ear and its rapid loss during maturation. In perinatal supporting cells, whose fate is maintained by Notch-mediated lateral inhibition, the hair cell enhancer network is epigenetically primed (H3K4me1) but silenced (active H3K27 de-acetylation and trimethylation). Blocking Notch signaling during the perinatal period of plasticity rapidly eliminates epigenetic silencing and allows supporting cells to transdifferentiate into hair cells. Importantly, H3K4me1 priming of the hair cell enhancers in supporting cells is removed during the first post-natal week, coinciding with the loss of transdifferentiation potential. We hypothesize that enhancer decommissioning during cochlear maturation contributes to the failure of hair cell regeneration in the mature organ of Corti.
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44
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POU4F3 pioneer activity enables ATOH1 to drive diverse mechanoreceptor differentiation through a feed-forward epigenetic mechanism. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2105137118. [PMID: 34266958 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2105137118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
During embryonic development, hierarchical cascades of transcription factors interact with lineage-specific chromatin structures to control the sequential steps in the differentiation of specialized cell types. While examples of transcription factor cascades have been well documented, the mechanisms underlying developmental changes in accessibility of cell type-specific enhancers remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the transcriptional "master regulator" ATOH1-which is necessary for the differentiation of two distinct mechanoreceptor cell types, hair cells in the inner ear and Merkel cells of the epidermis-is unable to access much of its target enhancer network in the progenitor populations of either cell type when it first appears, imposing a block to further differentiation. This block is overcome by a feed-forward mechanism in which ATOH1 first stimulates expression of POU4F3, which subsequently acts as a pioneer factor to provide access to closed ATOH1 enhancers, allowing hair cell and Merkel cell differentiation to proceed. Our analysis also indicates the presence of both shared and divergent ATOH1/POU4F3-dependent enhancer networks in hair cells and Merkel cells. These cells share a deep developmental lineage relationship, deriving from their common epidermal origin, and suggesting that this feed-forward mechanism preceded the evolutionary divergence of these very different mechanoreceptive cell types.
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45
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Yang Q, Shi H, Quan Y, Chen Q, Li W, Wang L, Wang Y, Ji Z, Yin SK, Shi HB, Xu H, Gao WQ. Stepwise Induction of Inner Ear Hair Cells From Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts via Mesenchymal- to-Epithelial Transition and Formation of Otic Epithelial Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:672406. [PMID: 34222247 PMCID: PMC8248816 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.672406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Although embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells are able to differentiate into inner ear hair cells (HCs), they have drawbacks limiting their clinical application, including a potential risk of tumourigenicity. Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts to inner ear HCs could offer an alternative solution to this problem. Here, we present a stepwise guidance protocol to induce mouse embryonic fibroblasts to differentiate into inner ear HC-like cells (HCLs) via mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition and then acquisition of otic sensory epithelial cell traits by overexpression of three key transcription factors. These induced HCLs express multiple HC-specific proteins, display protrusions reminiscent of ciliary bundle structures, respond to voltage stimulation, form functional mechanotransduction channels, and exhibit a transcriptional profile of HC signature. Together, our work provides a new method to produce functional HCLs in vitro, which may have important implications for studies of HC development, drug discovery, and cell replacement therapy for hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haosong Shi
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Sixth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yizhou Quan
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianqian Chen
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yonghui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongzhong Ji
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shan-Kai Yin
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Sixth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hai-Bo Shi
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Sixth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huiming Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei-Qiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,School of Biomedical Engineering and Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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46
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Cortada M, Levano S, Bodmer D. mTOR Signaling in the Inner Ear as Potential Target to Treat Hearing Loss. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126368. [PMID: 34198685 PMCID: PMC8232255 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hearing loss affects many people worldwide and occurs often as a result of age, ototoxic drugs and/or excessive noise exposure. With a growing number of elderly people, the number of people suffering from hearing loss will also increase in the future. Despite the high number of affected people, for most patients there is no curative therapy for hearing loss and hearing aids or cochlea implants remain the only option. Important treatment approaches for hearing loss include the development of regenerative therapies or the inhibition of cell death/promotion of cell survival pathways. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is a central regulator of cell growth, is involved in cell survival, and has been shown to be implicated in many age-related diseases. In the inner ear, mTOR signaling has also started to gain attention recently. In this review, we will emphasize recent discoveries of mTOR signaling in the inner ear and discuss implications for possible treatments for hearing restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Cortada
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; (M.C.); (S.L.)
| | - Soledad Levano
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; (M.C.); (S.L.)
| | - Daniel Bodmer
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; (M.C.); (S.L.)
- Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Basel Hospital, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +41-61-328-76-03
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Li N, Xi Y, Du H, Zhou H, Xu Z. Annexin A4 Is Dispensable for Hair Cell Development and Function. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:680155. [PMID: 34150775 PMCID: PMC8209329 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.680155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Annexin A4 (ANXA4) is a Ca2+-dependent phospholipid-binding protein that is specifically expressed in the cochlear and vestibular hair cells, but its function in the hair cells remains unknown. In the present study, we show that besides localizing on the plasma membrane, ANXA4 immunoreactivity is also localized at the tips of stereocilia in the hair cells. In order to investigate the role of ANXA4 in the hair cells, we established Anxa4 knockout mice using CRISPR/Cas9 technique. Unexpectedly, the development of both cochlear and vestibular hair cells is normal in Anxa4 knockout mice. Moreover, stereocilia morphology of Anxa4 knockout mice is normal, so is the mechano-electrical transduction (MET) function. Consistently, the auditory and vestibular functions are normal in the knockout mice. In conclusion, we show here that ANXA4 is dispensable for the development and function of hair cells, which might result from functional redundancy between ANXA4 and other annexin(s) in the hair cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Li
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yuehui Xi
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Haibo Du
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Hao Zhou
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhigang Xu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China.,Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center of Cell Biology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
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48
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Miwa T, Ito N, Ohta K. Tsukushi is essential for the formation of the posterior semicircular canal that detects gait performance. J Cell Commun Signal 2021; 15:581-594. [PMID: 34061311 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-021-00627-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Tsukushi is a small, leucine-rich repeat proteoglycan that interacts with and regulates essential cellular signaling cascades in the chick retina and murine subventricular zone, hippocampus, dermal hair follicles, and the cochlea. However, its function in the vestibules of the inner ear remains unknown. Here, we investigated the function of Tsukushi in the vestibules and found that Tsukushi deficiency in mice resulted in defects in posterior semicircular canal formation in the vestibules, but did not lead to vestibular hair cell loss. Furthermore, Tsukushi accumulated in the non-prosensory and prosensory regions during the embryonic and postnatal developmental stages. The downregulation of Tsukushi altered the expression of key genes driving vestibule differentiation in the non-prosensory regions. Our results indicate that Tsukushi interacts with Wnt2b, bone morphogenetic protein 4, fibroblast growth factor 10, and netrin 1, thereby controlling semicircular canal formation. Therefore, Tsukushi may be an essential component of the molecular pathways regulating vestibular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toru Miwa
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kitano Hospital, Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Ougimaci, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan.
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kumamoto University, Honjo, Kumamoto, Japan.
| | - Naofumi Ito
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Honjo, Kumamoto, Japan
- K.K. Sciex Japan, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kunimasa Ohta
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Faculty of Arts and Science, Kyushu University, Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan
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Hearing Loss Caused by HCMV Infection through Regulating the Wnt and Notch Signaling Pathways. Viruses 2021; 13:v13040623. [PMID: 33917368 PMCID: PMC8067389 DOI: 10.3390/v13040623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent sensory disabilities worldwide with huge social and economic burdens. The leading cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in children is congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Though the implementation of universal screening and early intervention such as antiviral or anti-inflammatory ameliorate the severity of CMV-associated diseases, direct and targeted therapeutics is still seriously lacking. The major hurdle for it is that the mechanism of CMV induced SNHL has not yet been well understood. In this review, we focus on the impact of CMV infection on the key players in inner ear development including the Wnt and Notch signaling pathways. Investigations on these interactions may gain new insights into viral pathogenesis and reveal novel targets for therapy.
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50
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Gao J, Fan L, Zhao L, Su Y. The interaction of Notch and Wnt signaling pathways in vertebrate regeneration. CELL REGENERATION (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2021; 10:11. [PMID: 33791915 PMCID: PMC8012441 DOI: 10.1186/s13619-020-00072-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Regeneration is an evolutionarily conserved process in animal kingdoms, however, the regenerative capacities differ from species and organ/tissues. Mammals possess very limited regenerative potential to replace damaged organs, whereas non-mammalian species usually have impressive abilities to regenerate organs. The regeneration process requires proper spatiotemporal regulation from key signaling pathways. The canonical Notch and Wnt signaling pathways, two fundamental signals guiding animal development, have been demonstrated to play significant roles in the regeneration of vertebrates. In recent years, increasing evidence has implicated the cross-talking between Notch and Wnt signals during organ regeneration. In this review, we summarize the roles of Notch signaling and Wnt signaling during several representative organ regenerative events, emphasizing the functions and molecular bases of their interplay in these processes, shedding light on utilizing these two signaling pathways to enhance regeneration in mammals and design legitimate therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junying Gao
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, China.,College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, China
| | - Lixia Fan
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, China.,College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, China
| | - Long Zhao
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, China. .,College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, China.
| | - Ying Su
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, China. .,College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, Shandong, China.
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