Rahul Mittal, Ph.D.
Meet the Researcher
Mittal received his Ph.D. from Panjab University, India.
After completing his postdoctoral fellowship from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, he joined the department of otolaryngology as a research scientist at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
The Research
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Deciphering the role of Slc22a4 in the development of stria vascularis, and to determine the effect of supplementation of its antioxidant substrate ergothioneine, on age-related hearing loss
Since mutations in the SLC22 gene family have been implicated in various pathological conditions, there has been a renewed interest in understanding their role in the maintenance of normal physiological functions of cells. SLC22A4 is ubiquitously expressed in the body and transports across the cellular plasma membrane various compounds, including acetylcholine and carnitine as well as the naturally occurring antioxidant ergothioneine (ERGO). In addition, SLC22A4 is abundantly expressed in the stria vascularis (SV), but its role in SV biology is not known.
This project will help in understanding how SLC22A4 contributes to SV development, atrophy, and dysfunction of the cochlea, leading to hearing loss. The project also aims to determine whether ERGO supplementation can prevent SV atrophy and ameliorate age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) in a mouse model.
Long-term goal: To better understand the biological processes leading to presbycusis, which may lead to the development of drugs to prevent and/or treat hearing loss in old age. Specifically, the goal is to understand the development of auditory organs including stria vascularis (SV) and how gene mutations trigger SV atrophy that can affect cochlear function, leading to hearing loss.