SCIENCE: Scientists Cure Deafness In Mice, Findings May Help Humans. :)

The Times of India

Scientists cure deafness in mice, findings may help humans

written by Kounteya Sinha,TNN

Tuesday October 21, 2014

LONDON - Scientists have cured deafness in mice.

A team from the University of Michigan Medical School's Kresge Hearing Research Institute and Harvard University have restored the hearing of mice partly deafened by noise, using advanced tools to boost the production of a key protein in their ears.

By demonstrating the importance of the protein, called NT3, in maintaining communication between the ears and brain, these new findings pave the way for research in humans that could improve treatment of hearing loss caused by noise exposure and normal aging.

Their work also illustrates the key role of cells that have traditionally been seen as the "supporting actors" of the ear-brain connection.

Called supporting cells, they form a physical base for the hearing system's "stars" — the hair cells in the ear that interact directly with the nerves that carry sound signals to the brain. This new research identifies the critical role of these supporting cells along with the NT3 molecules that they produce.

NT3 is crucial to the body's ability to form and maintain connections between hair cells and nerve cells, the researchers demonstrate.

"It has become apparent that hearing loss due to damaged ribbon synapses is a very common and challenging problem, whether it's due to noise or normal aging," says Gabriel Corfas, who led the team and directs the U-M institute.

"We began this work 15 years ago to answer very basic questions about the inner ear, and now we have been able to restore hearing after partial deafening with noise, a common problem for people. It's very exciting".

Using a special genetic technique, the researchers made it possible for some mice to produce additional NT3 in cells of specific areas of the inner ear after they were exposed to noise loud enough to reduce hearing. Mice with extra NT3 regained their ability to hear much better than the control mice.

Now, says Corfas, his team will explore the role of NT3 in human ears, and seek drugs that might boost NT3 action or production.