Feasibility of treating hearing disorders with stem cells: update.
The recent isolation of adult stem cells from the mouse utricle that have the capacity to differentiate into cells from all three germ layers--and more importantly, into inner ear hair cells--offers a viable option for the treatment of hearing loss. The finding that embryonic stem cells are also capable of differentiating into hair cells further expands the possibility that we may someday develop restorative treatment of sensorineural hearing loss.
Watters
Karen
K
Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
Corrales
C Eduardo
CE
D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology