Scientist reversed hearing loss in mice using a genetic method targeting the Spns2 gene, suggesting prospective for treatments in humans. Such medical interventions might deal with the significant unmet need, given the linkage of hearing loss to depression, cognitive decrease, and dementia.
Researchers at The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at Kings College London have effectively reversed hearing loss in mice.
Their findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, detail a genetic approach used to bring back hearing in mice affected by a faulty Spns2 gene, especially in the low to middle-frequency areas. Researchers say this proof-of-concept research study recommends that hearing disability resulting from reduced gene activity might be reversible.
Over half of grownups in their 70s experience substantial hearing loss. Impaired hearing is related to an increased likelihood of experiencing depression and cognitive decrease, in addition to being a significant predictor of dementia. While hearing help and cochlear implants might be useful, they do not restore regular hearing function, and neither do they halt illness progression in the ear. There is a significant unmet need for medical techniques that slow down or reverse hearing loss.
It was an essential minute, demonstrating the tangible capacity to reverse hearing loss triggered by defective genes.
Scientists in this study reproduced mice with an inactive Spns2 gene. Mice were then offered with a special enzyme at differing ages to activate the gene after which their hearing enhanced. This was discovered to be most reliable when Spns2 was activated at a young age, with the favorable effects of gene activation becoming less powerful the longer the researchers waited to offer the intervention.
Professor Karen Steel, Professor of Sensory Function at Kings IoPPN and the research studys senior author stated, “Degenerative diseases such as progressive hearing loss are often thought to be permanent, however we have shown that at least one kind of inner ear dysfunction can be reversed. We used a hereditary method to show this turnaround as a proof-of-concept in mice, however the positive outcomes must motivate research study into approaches like gene treatment or drugs to reactivate hearing in people with a similar type of hearing loss.”
Dr Elisa Martelletti, the research studys very first author from Kings IoPPN said, “Seeing the once-deaf mice respond to noises after treatment was really exhilarating. It was a turning point, demonstrating the concrete potential to reverse hearing loss brought on by malfunctioning genes. This groundbreaking proof-of-concept study unlocks new possibilities for future research study, stimulating hope for the advancement of treatments for hearing loss.”
Recommendation: “Reversal of an existing hearing loss by gene activation in Spns2 mutant mice” by Elisa Martelletti, Neil J. Ingham and Karen P. Steel, 8 August 2023, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.DOI: 10.1073/ pnas.2307355120.
This study was possible thanks to funding from the Medical Research Council, Wellcome, and from Decibel Therapeutics Inc
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While hearing aids and cochlear implants may be beneficial, they do not bring back normal hearing function, and neither do they stop disease progression in the ear. There is a significant unmet need for medical techniques that slow down or reverse hearing loss.
