Stem cells against age-related hearing loss

The British will conduct an experiment on the treatment of hearing loss with stem cellsCopper news
Specialists of the English University of Kiel will treat age-related hearing loss with the help of stem cells.

According to The Daily Telegraph (Stem cell treatment to prevent hearing loss), a research group led by Dave Furness prepared to conduct a series of relevant experiments.

Researchers have found that age-related decrease in hearing acuity is associated with deterioration of fibrocytes. They are the precursors of fibroblasts (mature connective tissue cells). In the cochlea of the inner ear, fibrocytes regulate the ionic composition of the fluid through which sound vibrations propagate.

Furness's group is currently growing a fibrocyte culture in the laboratory from stem cells. At the next stage of the work, the fibrocytes grown in this way will be transplanted into the inner ear of patients with age-related hearing loss.

Researchers are discussing the technique of performing the appropriate surgical intervention. According to scientists, there are more than nine million patients with age-related hearing loss in the UK, this disorder is observed in every second Briton over 60 years old.

In February 2011, Australian experts proposed using a similar technique for the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss, which is caused by a violation of hair cells – neurons that perceive fluid fluctuations in the channels of the inner ear. They transplanted stem cells into mice, which were supposed to replace damaged neurons. A month after transplantation, the mice were able to perceive significantly quieter sounds than before the operation.

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29.12.2011