Researchers have identified a gene that prevents the regeneration of inner ear cells that are critical to hearing, a discovery experts say is the first step toward finding a way to correct the most common form of deafness among the elderly. In laboratory mouse studies at Massachusetts General Hospital, researchers found that by eliminating the effects of a single gene they could cause inner ear cells vital to hearing to regrow. The regrowth replaces nerve endings, called hair cells, that are often lost to injury or age. “Most deafness is caused by the loss of these hair cells,” said Zheng-Yi Chen, leader of the hospital research team. “Now we have the means to regenerate these cells.” The goal, said Chen, is to learn find a way to turn off this gene in the inner ear of humans, probably with a drug, and allow the regrowth of hair cells. “That would lead to recovery of hearing,” said Chen. He is senior author of the study appearing this week in the journal Science.
