Follistatin promotes LIN28B-mediated supporting cell reprogramming and hair cell regeneration in the murine cochlea.
Xiao-Jun LiCharles MorganChristopher A WalshAngelika DoetzlhoferPublished in: Science advances (2022)
Hair cell (HC) loss within the inner ear cochlea is a leading cause for deafness in humans. Before the onset of hearing, immature supporting cells (SCs) in neonatal mice have some limited capacity for HC regeneration. Here, we show that in organoid culture, transient activation of the progenitor-specific RNA binding protein LIN28B and Activin antagonist follistatin (FST) enhances regenerative competence of maturing/mature cochlear SCs by reprogramming them into progenitor-like cells. Transcriptome profiling and mechanistic studies reveal that LIN28B drives SC reprogramming, while FST is required to counterbalance hyperactivation of transforming growth factor-β-type signaling by LIN28B. Last, we show that LIN28B and FST coactivation enhances spontaneous cochlear HC regeneration in neonatal mice and that LIN28B may be part of an endogenous repair mechanism that primes SCs for HC regeneration. These findings indicate that SC dedifferentiation is critical for HC regeneration and identify LIN28B and FST as main regulators.
Keyphrases
- stem cells
- single cell
- cell therapy
- transforming growth factor
- rna seq
- epithelial mesenchymal transition
- induced apoptosis
- genome wide
- type diabetes
- mesenchymal stem cells
- hearing loss
- gene expression
- metabolic syndrome
- dna methylation
- high fat diet induced
- adipose tissue
- cell cycle arrest
- signaling pathway
- endoplasmic reticulum stress
- cerebral ischemia