title: Inner ear supporting cells: rethinking the silent majority.
abstract: Sensory epithelia of the inner ear contain two major cell types: hair cells and supporting cells. It has been clear for a long time that hair cells play critical roles in mechanoreception and synaptic transmission. In contrast, until recently the more abundant supporting cells were viewed as serving primarily structural and homeostatic functions. In this review, we discuss the growing information about the roles that supporting cells play in the development, function and maintenance of the inner ear, their activities in pathological states, their potential for hair cell regeneration, and the mechanisms underlying these processes.
authors.affiliation: FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Children's Hospital Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Guoqiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corfas
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Stone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016764:Cell Polarity; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007760:Labyrinth Supporting Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009154:Mutation; D012038:Regeneration; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors
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