title: Mechanisms of sensorineural cell damage, death and survival in the cochlea.
abstract: The majority of acquired hearing loss, including presbycusis, is caused by irreversible damage to the sensorineural tissues of the cochlea. This article reviews the intracellular mechanisms that contribute to sensorineural damage in the cochlea, as well as the survival signaling pathways that can provide endogenous protection and tissue rescue. These data have primarily been generated in hearing loss not directly related to age. However, there is evidence that similar mechanisms operate in presbycusis. Moreover, accumulation of damage from other causes can contribute to age-related hearing loss (ARHL). Potential therapeutic interventions to balance opposing but interconnected cell damage and survival pathways, such as antioxidants, anti-apoptotics, and pro-inflammatory cytokine inhibitors, are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery/Division of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine La Jolla, CA, USA ; Department of Physiology and Translational Neuroscience Facility, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Ann C Y
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery/Division of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine La Jolla, CA, USA ; Veterans Administration Medical Center La Jolla, CA, USA ; Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine La Jolla, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Allen F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Ryan
keywords: age-related hearing loss (ARHL); c-Jun terminal kinase (JNK); cell survival signaling; hair cells (HCs); inflammation; presbycusis; reactive oxygen species (ROS); spiral ganglion neurons (SGN)