1. February 11, 2011
Hearing With Your Nose?
Nasal Stem Cells May Treat Hearing Loss
By Deborah Huso
Stem cell scientists in Australia type of approach is getting a
may have discovered a new way to It has been sufficiently large number of cells
treat hearing loss suffered in early into the cochlea in a way that does
demonstrated in a number of
childhood. And it's not with a not do further damage," study
hearing aid or special surgery. In studies that stem cells, such as author Dr. Jeremy M. Sullivan, of
fact, the answer to hearing loss may olfactory stem cells, dental pulp Johns Hopkins University,
be right under our nose, quite stem cells and hair follicle stem explained to AOL Health. "Another
literally. important challenge will also be to
cells have the ability to determine the mechanisms by
The findings, published in the transform into functional cells which the transplanted cells
journal STEM CELLS, found that of the nervous system," influence hearing levels."
transplanting mucosa-derived stem
cells, a form of rapidly renewing Christian Drapeau, chief science Sullivan says tracking studies
tissues in the nose, can help officer of Stemtech International suggest that chemical signaling
prevent sensorineural hearing loss told AOL Health. may be involved and that the
during its early stages. transplanted cells may release
chemical factors that influence the
Scientists transplanted adult native cells of the cochlea.
human nasal stem cells into the stem cells in the spinal cord was
ears of mice that exhibited signs of able to restore mobility." Sensorineural hearing loss occurs
hearing loss. The mice were 4 He says the olfactory stem cells when there is a loss of sensory cells
weeks old, the typical age when injected in the cochlear cavity could in the cochlea, a sensory organ
hearing loss in mice first becomes help reverse or protect located in the inner ear that
apparent. Dr. Sharon Oleskevich, sensorineural hearing loss in the enables hearing. This condition can
lead study author from the Hearing same kind of way. arise during infancy or childhood
Research Group at The University and is most commonly due to
of New South Wales, said her "Examination of hearing levels one genetic causes.
research team found improvements month post-surgery demonstrated
in hearing function one month later that hearing thresholds in stem "Hearing impairments that arise
when compared against cell-transplanted mice were during infancy and childhood can
age-matched mice that received significantly lower than those of lead to marked deficits in speech
placebo injections. mice that received a placebo and language acquisition, as will as
injection, indicating that hinder cognitive and psychosocial
"It has been demonstrated in a transplanted mice were better able development," said Oleskevich. She
number of studies that stem cells, to hear less-intense sounds," believes the results of this latest
such as olfactory stem cells, dental Oleskevich told AOL Health in an study may eventually lead to
pulp stem cells and hair follicle e-mail. development of a new treatment
stem cells have the ability to for early-onset sensorineural
transform into functional cells of Doctors and researchers are hearing loss.
the nervous system," Christian optimistic their research could
Drapeau, chief science officer of impact future treatments of Drapeau agrees but indicates
Stemtech International, told AOL hearing loss. further study is necessary,
Health. "For example, in animal particularly with regard to
studies, injection of hair follicle "As the cochlea is a very sensitive potential complications with the
organ, the major challenge to this treatment.