Deafness Stem Cell Treatment May be Possible in Next Decade
Researchers focused on hearing believe they are close to developing a “cure” to hereditary deafness. The approach would be to use stem cells to grow new cochlear cells within the ear to replace those that are faulty.
The human ear has a spiral structure known as the cochlea. Within the cochlea are very fine hairs which are used for hearing. The entire structure is critical to proper hearing; however, many people are born with a genetic mutation to the cochlea cell. The result is severe hearing loss. This mutation occurs in roughly 1 in every 1,000 births.
The primary form of treatment for these individuals is a hearing aid or cochlear implant which delivers sound more directly to the hearing nerves.
Will Stem Cells Be Able to Treat Deafness
Stems cells have long been revered for their ability to differentiate into various cells throughout the body. This robust feature makes them a powerful tool in regenerative medicine.
Experiments led by Professor Kazusaku Kamiya of Juntendo University in Tokyo, Japan have already demonstrated that the researchers can produce new, healthy human ear hair cells.
“We have found a way to make cochlear stem cells. The next step is to find a way to safely inject them into the patient’s ear.” – Professor Kazusaku Kamiya
Kamiya’s work builds on insights started by researchers such as Dr. Marcelo Rivolta from the University of Sheffield. Rivolta’s 2009 research study first examined the ability to introduce stem cells to the cochlear region in efforts to regenerate damaged cells.
There are several teams around the world working to solve this same problem. And while many different approaches are being explored, they all agree treatments using stem cells could come in as few as 5-to-10 years.
Kimaya’s research will be published in the journal Stem Cell Reports.
What This Means for Cord Blood Storage
This research helps to demonstrate another reason why expecting parents are considering the banking of their baby’s cord blood stem cells. Give us a call if you are looking for more information.
References
Kazusaku Kamiya, Yoshiaki Fujinami, Noriyuki Hoya, Yasuhide Okamoto, Hiroko Kouike, Rie Komatsuzaki, Ritsuko Kusano, Susumu Nakagawa, Hiroko Satoh, Masato Fujii, Tatsuo Matsunaga, Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation Accelerates Hearing Recovery through the Repair of Injured Cochlear Fibrocytes , The American Journal of Pathology, Volume 171, Issue 1, July 2007, Pages 214–226
