ATP-Gated P2x7 Receptors Express at Type II Auditory Nerves and Required for Efferent Hearing Control and Noise Protection

[AngrySmurf]

ATP-gated P2x7 receptors express at type II auditory nerves and required for efferent hearing control and noise protection - PubMed

Negative feedback of the cochlear efferent system plays a critical role in control of hearing sensitivity and protection from noise trauma. Type II auditory nerves (ANs) innervate outer hair cells (OHCs) in the cochlea and provide an input to the cochlear efferent system to achieve hearing...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Here, we report that ATP-gated P2x7 receptor had a predominant expression at type II spiral ganglion (SG) neurons and the synaptic areas under inner hair cells and OHCs with lateral and medial olivocochlear efferent nerves. Knockout (KO) of P2x7 increased hearing sensitivity with enhanced acoustic startle response, auditory brainstem response, and cochlear microphonics by increasing OHC electromotility. P2x7 KO also increased susceptibility to noise and exacerbated ribbon synapse degeneration. Middle-level noise exposure could impair active cochlear mechanics resulting in hearing loss in P2x7 KO mice. These data demonstrate that P2x7 receptors have a critical role in type II SG neuron's function and the cochlear efferent system to control hearing sensitivity; deficiency of P2x7 receptors can impair type II SG neuron's function and the cochlear efferent suppression leading to increase of active cochlear amplification and hearing oversensitivity, i.e., hyperacusis, and susceptibility to noise, which may also associate with other hearing disorders, such as tinnitus.

 

[Joeseph Stope]

Go on! Silver-tongued, pseudo-academic, raising our hopes…

But if you are actually onto something, that would be wonderful.

So, where is the catch? Does it only work for early-onset cases who happen to be billionaires?

 

[StoneInFocus]

Go on! Silver-tongued, pseudo-academic, raising our hopes…

But if you are actually onto something, that would be wonderful.

So, where is the catch? Does it only work for early-onset cases who happen to be billionaires?

How is this pseudo-academic? It is a legitimate research article.

Anyway, here is the paper for anyone who is interested:

 

[Joeseph Stope]

@StoneInFocus, I must apologize. I let my feelings get the better of me. A wave of gloom came over me when I added everything up and concluded that, whatever promising research is making progress today, it will probably reach the market in ten years—by which time rheumatism or arthritis may have pushed my tinnitus far down my list of concerns.

Oh, and of course, the cure will likely be priced for members of the Elon Musk club...

But my spirits were lifted considerably when I later came across the following:

Deafness reversed: Single injection brings hearing back within weeks

A cutting-edge gene therapy has significantly restored hearing in children and adults with congenital deafness, showing dramatic results just one month after a single injection. Researchers used a virus to deliver a healthy copy of the OTOF gene into the inner ear, improving auditory function...

www.sciencedaily.com

It seems that the Chinese and the Swedes have done the impossible. They have managed to cure some people who are deaf.

It is not a treatment for everyone, only for those with congenital deafness. It requires a single injection into the cochlea, targeting the OTOH gene—whatever that is. But this must be a first in medicine.

Breakthrough gene therapy jab reverses hearing loss in weeks

Researcher says this type of treatment for deafness is ‘just the beginning’

www.independent.co.uk

Enjoy.