Regeneration of the mammalian inner ear sensory epithelium.
OBJECTIVE
This review will focus on 'self-repair' of the mammalian inner ear sensory epithelium, including recruiting the in-situ proliferation and differentiation of endogenous cells at the damaged site and the autologous transplantation


RESULTS
Self-repair refers to a favorable structural and functional outcome of damaged inner ear sensory epithelium. Our advanced ability of manipulating the fate of inner ear sensory cells makes in-situ proliferation a possible candidate of hearing restoration. A practical alternative of the unavoidable immune rejection is to introduce autologous cells. Ependymal cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and olfactory neuroepithelial cells have been recognized as promising sources, which will spur ongoing efforts to evaluate these new cell sources for cell replacement therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Further exploration of the innate advantages of in-situ proliferation and use of novel cell sources for autologous transplantation may serve as rehearsals for clinical trials in the near future.
Wei
Dongguang
D
Center for Neuroscience, Program in Communication Science, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of California, Davis, California 95618, USA.
Yamoah
Ebenezer N
EN
D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000502:physiology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology*; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006199:Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / Q000502:physiology*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; C500942:ATOH1 protein, human