Gene Therapy For Hearing Loss

Human hair cells. (Credit: Image courtesy of University of Virginia Health System)



A novel gene therapy approach has been developed by the scientists in University of Virgina Health System to treat the patients with genetic or acquired hearing loss.

The research has focused on a gene called KCNQ4. It is said that this gene is responsible for genetic hearing loss in human when it get mutated. According to the resources, Dr. Jeffrey Holt, associate professor of neuroscience and otolaryngology at UVa, and his research team, including Dr. Bradley Kesser, an assistant professor of otolaryngology, have engineered a correct version of this gene. Then they have transferred these modified genes in to hair cells obtained from inner ears of people having genetic hearing loss, by using a gene therapy delivery system, developed by this team

"Our results show that gene therapy reagents are effective in human inner ear tissue” says Dr. Holt.

Hair cells are special kind of cells that lines the cochlear (cochlea is the portion of the inner ear that is responsible for hearing) There are hair-like projections in each hair cell. When a sound wave hits these projections an electric signal is generated and transferred to the brain. When brain receives this signal the corresponding sound that generated the signal is identified by the person. This is the theory of hearing. In a patient with hearing disability, these hair cells are either absent, low or damaged.

Past research by Dr. Holt revealed the speed at which hair cells develop in mouse embryos. Therefore it is expected that this team of scientists lead by Dr. Holt would someday find out a perfect cure for genetic or acquired hearing loss.

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