ErbB Expression: The Mouse Inner Ear and Maturation of the Mitogenic Response to Heregulin

In humans, hair cell loss often leads to hearing and balance impairments. Hair cell replacement is vigorous and spontaneous in avians and nonmammalian vertebrates. In mammals, in contrast, it occurs at a very low rate, or not at all, presumably because of a very low level of supporting cell proliferation following injury. Heregulin (HRG), a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family of growth factors, is reported to be a potent mitogen for neonatal rat vestibular sensory epithelium, but its effects in adults are unknown. We report here that HRG- stimulates cell proliferation in organotypic cultures of neonatal, but not adult, mouse utricular sensory epithelia. Our findings support the idea that the proliferative capabilities of the adult mammalian vestibular sensory epithelia differ significantly from that seen in neonatal animals. Immunohistochemistry reveals that HRG-binding receptors (erbBs 2–4) and erbB1 are widely expressed in vestibular and auditory sensory epithelia in neonatal and adult mouse inner ear. The distribution of erbBs in the neonatal and adult mouse ear is consistent with the EGF receptor/ligand family regulating diverse cellular processes in the inner ear, including cell proliferation and differentiation. Present address (Mette Kirkegaard): Department of Zoophysiology, Bld. 131, Universitetsparken, University of Aarhus, Denmark     

Expression of calretinin by fetal otocyst cells after transplantation into damaged rat utricle explants

Severe damage by acoustic overstimulation or ototoxins induces inner ear hair cell loss, resulting in permanent hearing loss and balance disorders because hair cell regeneration scarcely occurs in the inner ear sensory organs of mammals. In this study, to evaluate the possibilities of cell transplantation therapy for damaged inner ear sensory organs, dissociated cell cultures of fetal otocyst cells (FOCs) were established from embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5) rat inner ears, and transplanted into gentamicin-treated explants of vestibular sensory epithelia. Two weeks after transplantation, immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that some of the grafted FOCs survived within the vestibular sensory epithelia and expressed epitopes of calretinin. one of the hair cell marker proteins. These findings indicate that FOCs have the potential to migrate into damaged vestibular epithelia and differentiate into hair cell immunophenotypes. Cell transplantation therapy may be available for functional regeneration in inner ear diseases.     

Delta/Notch-Like EGF-Related Receptor (DNER) is Expressed in Hair Cells and Neurons in the Developing and Adult Mouse Inner Ear

The Notch signaling pathway is known to play important roles in inner ear development. Previous studies have shown that the Notch1 receptor and ligands in the Delta and Jagged families are important for cellular differentiation and patterning of the organ of Corti. Delta/notch-like epidermal growth factor (EGF)-related receptor (DNER) is a novel Notch ligand expressed in developing and adult CNS neurons known to promote maturation of glia through activation of Notch. Here we use in situ hybridization and an antibody against DNER to carry out expression studies of the mouse cochlea and vestibule. We find that DNER is expressed in spiral ganglion neuron cell bodies and peripheral processes during embryonic development of the cochlea and expression in these cells is maintained in adults. DNER becomes strongly expressed in auditory hair cells during postnatal maturation in the mouse cochlea and immunoreactivity for this protein is strong in hair cells and afferent and efferent peripheral nerve endings in the adult organ of Corti. In the vestibular system, we find that DNER is expressed in hair cells and vestibular ganglion neurons during development and in adults. To investigate whether DNER plays a functional role in the inner ear, perhaps similar to its described role in glial maturation, we examined cochleae of DNER−/− mice using immunohistochemical markers of mature glia and supporting cells as well as neurons and hair cells. We found no defects in expression of markers of supporting cells and glia or myelin, and no abnormalities in hair cells or neurons, suggesting that DNER plays a redundant role with other Notch ligands in cochlear development.     

How to Bury the Dead: Elimination of Apoptotic Hair Cells from the Hearing Organ of the Mouse

Hair cell death is a major cause of hearing impairment. Preservation of surface barrier upon hair cell loss is critical to prevent leakage of potassium-rich endolymph into the organ of Corti and to prevent expansion of cellular damage. Understanding of wound healing in this cytoarchitecturally complex organ requires ultrastructural 3D visualization. Powered by the serial block-face scanning electron microscopy, we penetrate into the cell biological mechanisms in the acute response of outer hair cells and glial-like Deiters’ cells to ototoxic trauma in vivo. We show that Deiters’ cells function as phagocytes. Upon trauma, their phalangeal processes swell and the resulting close cellular contacts allow engulfment of apoptotic cell debris. Apical domains of dying hair cells are eliminated from the inner ear sensory epithelia, an event thought to depend on supporting cells’ actomyosin contractile activity. We show that in the case of apoptotic outer hair cells of the organ of Corti, elimination of their apices is preceded by strong cell body shrinkage, emphasizing the role of the dying cell itself in the cleavage. Our data reveal that the resealing of epithelial surface by junctional extensions of Deiters’ cells is dynamically reinforced by newly polymerized F-actin belts. By analyzing Cdc42-inactivated Deiters’ cells with defects in actin dynamics and surface closure, we show that compromised barrier integrity shifts hair cell death from apoptosis to necrosis and leads to expanded hair cell and nerve fiber damage. Our results have implications concerning therapeutic protective and regenerative interventions, because both interventions should maintain barrier integrity.     

Transplantation of neural stem cells into explants of rat inner ear

Damage and loss of hair cells in the inner ear is the most frequent cause of hearing loss and balance disorders. Mammalian hair cells do not regenerate in the conventional ways. To regenerate the hair cell in the mammalian inner ear we transplanted neural stem cells into explants of rat inner ear. The stem cells integrated successfully into the sensory epithelium of the vestibular organs, but not into the organ of Corti. This method is useful to investigate efficient ways to transplant stem cells into the inner ear.     

耳蜗图的绘制及应用进展

位于耳蜗基底膜上的Corti器是接受声振动刺激的初级感受器，作为Corti器中的感觉细胞，毛细胞的损害将引起不同程度及频率范围的听力损失。对耳蜗毛细胞在基底膜不同部位的丢失情况进行定量分析是内耳组织病理学研究中最常用的手段，将全耳蜗毛细胞损害的定量定位分析结果与听功能相结合将有益于对疾病机制的探索和对治疗方法的评价。目前对全耳蜗毛细胞定位定量分析常采用耳蜗图来表示，但在听力学研究中耳蜗图的绘制方法并不完全相同，尚缺乏统一的绘制标准及原则，使得各个实验结果之间缺乏可比性。为更精准地对全耳蜗毛细胞的损伤情况进行定位定量分析，需要统一耳蜗图的绘制方法及原则。本文就目前文献报导中常用的耳蜗图绘制方法及绘制原则进行了综述。     

支持细胞在哺乳动物耳蜗发育及功能中的作用

耳蜗的感觉上皮细胞有毛细胞和支持细胞两种类型.许多研究旨在探讨听力损失的基本机制,重点针对毛细胞和螺旋神经元,较少关注支持细胞.目前对支持细胞作用的了解已从单纯的结构支持扩展到耳蜗毛细胞分化发育、耳蜗离子稳态、毛细胞感音功能的调节以及突触发生发育、毛细胞损伤修复的多个方面.本文对支持细胞在哺乳动物耳蜗发育及功能中的关键作用做一综述.     

Epidermal Growth Factor Upregulates Production of Supernumerary Hair Cells in Neonatal Rat Organ of Corti Explants

The organ of Corti is highly ordered, with a single row of inner hair cells and three rows of outer hair cells. The number of hair cells produced was thought to be limited by the time of their terminal mitosis (i.e. E14 in the mouse). However, exogenous application of retinoic acid has been shown to stimulate the formation of supernumerary hair cells in organ of Corti explants from E13 to E16 mouse embryos. Using late embryonic and neonatal rat organ of Corti explants, we investigated the potential for production of supernumerary hair cells in more mature auditory sensory epithelia. When newborn rat organ of Corti explants were cultured under control conditions, an area of supernumerary hair cells was observed in a segment of organ of Corti that was at the junction between the basal and middle turns. In these areas of supernumerary hair cells the number of hair cells increased per unit of length, but remained constant per surface unit, further demonstrating the supernumerary character of this phenomenon. Organ of Corti explants treated with epidermal growth factor (EGF) showed a 50% increase in the length of the organ of Corti segment containing supernumerary hair cells. Upregulation of supernumerary hair cell formation by EGF was found to start and be maximal at birth (P0) and to disappear by 2 days after birth (P2). Treatment of EGF stimulated P0 explants with an antimitotic drug, cytosine arabinoside (ARAc), demonstrated that the production of supernumerary hair cells occurred independently of cell division.     

Differential Distribution of Stem Cells in the Auditory and Vestibular Organs of the Inner Ear

The adult mammalian cochlea lacks regenerative capacity, which is the main reason for the permanence of hearing loss. Vestibular organs, in contrast, replace a small number of lost hair cells. The reason for this difference is unknown. In this work we show isolation of sphere-forming stem cells from the early postnatal organ of Corti, vestibular sensory epithelia, the spiral ganglion, and the stria vascularis. Organ of Corti and vestibular sensory epithelial stem cells give rise to cells that express multiple hair cell markers and express functional ion channels reminiscent of nascent hair cells. Spiral ganglion stem cells display features of neural stem cells and can give rise to neurons and glial cell types. We found that the ability for sphere formation in the mouse cochlea decreases about 100-fold during the second and third postnatal weeks; this decrease is substantially faster than the reduction of stem cells in vestibular organs, which maintain their stem cell population also at older ages. Coincidentally, the relative expression of developmental and progenitor cell markers in the cochlea decreases during the first 3 postnatal weeks, which is in sharp contrast to the vestibular system, where expression of progenitor cell markers remains constant or even increases during this period. Our findings indicate that the lack of regenerative capacity in the adult mammalian cochlea is either a result of an early postnatal loss of stem cells or diminishment of stem cell features of maturing cochlear cells.     

Inner ear hair cell regeneration in a mammal: Identification of a triggering factor

Recent observations have shown that mammals possess a limited capacity for regeneration of inner ear sensory epithelia. It is clear, however, that a mitogenic growth factor will be necessary to up-regulate this capacity before clinical application becomes feasible. This study used in vitro cultures of adult mouse vestibular organs for assessing the mitogenic effect of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α). Sixty-one utricles and cristae were maintained in culture for 7 to 8 days. Neomycin was used to damage the hair cells. Autoradiography permitted identification of any cell which had undergone mitosis during the culture period. The proliferative response was compared in organs exposed to TGF-alpha and those maintained in the basic culture medium only. The results demonstrated that TGF-alpha significantly increased cell proliferation in the sensory epithelia and also in the marginal zones surrounding them. This finding provides a scientific basis for the concept that inner ear hair cell damage in humans may someday be reversible pharmacologically.     

Vector-mediated delivery of bcl-2 prevents degeneration of auditory hair cells and neurons after injury

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that bcl-2 prevents oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of auditory sensory cells in explants of the organ of Corti and dissociated cell cultures of the spiral ganglion. METHODS: Organ of Corti explants and dissociated spiral ganglion cell cultures obtained from 3-day-old (P3) rats or adult spiral ganglion cell cultures from 28-day-old (P28) rats were transduced with vectors containing a human bcl-2 gene. Cultures were then exposed to neomycin, cisplatin or subjected to withdrawal of neurotrophin supplementation. Outcome measures included hair cell and neuron counts, mitochondrial membrane potential and a histological measure of apoptosis. RESULTS: Expression of bcl-2 in the organ of Corti explants and neuronal cell cultures provided a significant level of protection against cell death. Bcl-2 expression in the organ of Corti explants also protected mitochondria from loss of membrane potential and blocked an early step in the commitment of hair cells to apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Expression of bcl-2 in cochlear tissues protects sensory cells from a variety of insults that have been demonstrated to damage the inner ear.     

Strategies to regenerate hair cells: identification of progenitors and critical genes

Deafness commonly results from a lesion of the sensory cells and/or of the neurons of the auditory part of the inner ear. There are currently no treatments designed to halt or reverse the progression of hearing loss. A key goal in developing therapy for sensorineural deafness is the identification of strategies to replace lost hair cells. In amphibians and birds, a spontaneous post-injury regeneration of all inner ear sensory hair cells occurs. In contrast, in the mammalian cochlea, hair cells are only produced during embryogenesis. Many studies have been carried out in order to demonstrate the persistence of endogenous progenitors. The present review is first focused on the occurrence of spontaneous supernumerary hair cells and on nestin positive precursors found in the organ of Corti. A second approach to regenerating hair cells would be to find genes essential for their differentiation. This review will also focus on critical genes for embryonic hair cell formation such as the cell cycle related proteins, the Atoh1 gene and the Notch signaling pathway. Understanding mechanisms that underlie hair cell production is an essential prerequisite to defining therapeutic strategies to regenerate hair cells in the mature inner ear.     

Epidermal growth factor upregulates production of supernumerary hair cells in neonatal rat organ of corti explants

The organ of Corti is highly ordered, with a single row of inner hair cells and three rows of outer hair cells. The number of hair cells produced was thought to be limited by the time of their terminal mitosis (i.e. E14 in the mouse). However, exogenous application of retinoic acid has been shown to stimulate the formation of supernumerary hair cells in organ of Corti explants from E13 to E16 mouse embryos. Using late embryonic and neonatal rat organ of Corti explants, we investigated the potential for production of supernumerary hair cells in more mature auditory sensory epithelia. When newborn rat organ of Corti explants were cultured under control conditions, an area of supernumerary hair cells was observed in a segment of organ of Corti that was at the junction between the basal and middle turns. In these areas of supernumerary hair cells the number of hair cells increased per unit of length, but remained constant per surface unit, further demonstrating the supernumerary character of this phenomenon. Organ of Corti explants treated with epidermal growth factor (EGF) showed a 50% increase in the length of the organ of Corti segment containing supernumerary hair cells. Upregulation of supernumerary hair cell formation by EGF was found to start and be maximal at birth (P0) and to disappear by 2 days after birth (P2). Treatment of EGF stimulated P0 explants with an antimitotic drug, cytosine arabinoside (ARAc), demonstrated that the production of supernumerary hair cells occurred independently of cell division.     

Regenerative Medizin in der Therapie der Innenohrschwerhörigkeit

Regenerative medicine offers the prospect of causal treatment of sensorineural hearing loss. In humans, the loss of sensory hair cells is irreversible and results in chronic hearing loss. Other vertebrates, particularly birds, have the capability to spontaneously regenerate lost sensory hair cells and restore hearing. In the bird model, regeneration of hair cells is based on the proliferation of supporting cells. In mammals, supporting cells have lost their proliferative capacity and are terminally differentiated. To gain an understanding about regeneration of hair cells in mammals, cell division of supporting cells has to be controlled. Gene disruption of the cell cycle inhibitor p27(Kip1) allows supporting cell proliferation in the organ of Corti in vivo. Furthermore, in vitro studies indicate that newly generated cells may differentiate into hair cells after p27(Kip1) disruption. Other current methods to induce hair cell regeneration include the gene transfer of Math1 and transplantation of stem cells to the inner ear.     

Inner ear pathology associated with Reye's syndrome

Severe pathological changes were observed in the inner ear tissues of a 2-month-old patient who died of Reye's syndrome after 5 days of hospitalization. In the organ of Corti, the inner hair cells appeared to be more severely damaged than the outer hair cells. Various degrees of degeneration were observed in all non-sensory epithelial cells lining the cochlear duct. In most turns of the cochlear duct, Reissner's membrane was ruptured and/or collapsed onto the organ of Corti. Likewise, both sensory and non-sensory cells of the vestibular end organs were markedly degenerated. These observations suggest that the inner ear tissues are acutely affected in patients with Reye's syndrome, and that the changes may cause impairment of hearing and/or equilibrium in patients who recover.     

听觉损伤后毛细胞再生与聋病基因治疗策略

听觉损伤可引起耳蜗毛细胞和听觉神经元的不可逆性损伤,从而导致永久性的感音神经性耳聋。虽然内耳所独具的结构是基因治疗非常独特和重要的靶器官,但能否实现损伤后毛细胞的再生是其前提条件。国内外研究者们做了大量的探索并取得重要突破,从非哺乳动物到哺乳动物毛细胞再生,从前庭毛细胞到耳蜗毛细胞再生,从未成熟期到成年期毛细胞再生,从离体培养毛细胞再生到在体毛细胞再生,整整经历了近半个世纪。但是毛细胞的再生并不等同于听力完全恢复。针对内耳基因治疗时间窗问题,我们根据听觉损伤后不同的病理状态,提出听觉损伤后毛细胞再生和基因治疗的基本策略：（1）毛细胞纤毛损伤阶段,是基因治疗的最好时机,通过完全修复或纤毛再生达到功能的完全或部分恢复;（2）内耳毛细胞虽有损伤但没有坏死,支持细胞和神经纤维基本正常,所以有恢复形态和功能的机会,这个阶段导入Math1基因应该有效,是基因治疗的最关键时机;（3）毛细胞严重损伤但支持细胞尚存,是毛细胞再生的抢救阶段,而且还可以争取在Corti器细胞构架没有塌陷之前进行干细胞导入,所以这个阶段内细胞移植可能有效地实现听力恢复;（4）Corti器完全失去构架,仅仅残留上皮层或瘢痕化,基因导入完全无效,即使干细胞导入也会面临困难,如何重塑Corti器构架是巨大挑战。为了实现耳聋基因治疗临床应用的可能性。我们还探索了最有效简便的外源基因内耳导入方式以及高效安全可靠的基因载体比如纳米载体的研发。毛细胞再生研究已经取得突破性进展,但还面临诸多挑战。通过不懈的努力,聋病基因治疗的最终临床应用一定会实现。