Christina L. Kaiser, Ph.D.
The Research
Boston University School of Medicine
An active role for the supporting cell cytoskeleton in controlling hair cell death and regeneration
Cochlear hair cells are the primary targets of most damaging agents. When these cells are lost in humans and other mammals, the resultant hearing loss is permanent. However, chickens and other avian species have the ability to replace lost cochlear hair cells. Cochlear hair cell regeneration occurs through two different mechanisms: Direct transdifferentiation (DT) and mitotic proliferation. In DT, supporting cells directly alter their gene expression to become new hair cells. Alternatively, in mitotic proliferation, normally quiescent supporting cells are induced to proliferate and differentiate into new hair cells and new supporting cells following the death and ejection of the original sensory cells. The experiments in this research are designed to examine how supporting cells regulate hair cell death and how this subsequently regulates supporting cell proliferation. Additionally, we are trying to prevent both the death and ejection of cochlear hair cells. If cochlear hair cells can be “trapped” and “rescued” by treatment with various inhibitors, these compounds may be useful therapeutic tools in hearing loss prevention.