The Same Zanes could hold the key to regenerating cells in the ear and eye, according to a new mouse study from the usc stem cell labratory of ksenia ganedeva, ph.d., publled in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,

“The progeny of progenitor cells in response to injury is a crucial step in the reception of sensory receptors, but this process is blocked in the mammalian inner ear and retina. Enforce this Block, We Can Advance Efforts to Restore Hearing and Vision in Patients, “said ganedeva, an assistant professor in the Usc tina and rick caruso department of Otolyngology –head and NACKKKY Surgery, and the department of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine at the key school of medicine of Usc.

In the study, first authors Eva jahanshir and Juan llamas from the ganedeva lab focused on a group of interactive Inhibit cell proliferation in the ear during Embryonic Development. In their experiences, the scientists demonstrated that the hippo pathway also suppresses the regeneration of damaged sensory receptors in the ear and eye of adult mice.

The scientists used an experiencedly compound that the lab earlier developed to inhibit a key protein in the hippo pathway: Lats1/2. Whene exposed to this drug-Like Compound in a Petri Dish, The Progenitor Cells, Known as Supporting Cells, Responded By Problefering in the utrrick, which is a sensory organ in the inner ear With balance. However, the same cells did not respond in the organ of corti, which is the hearing sensory Organ.

The scientists next identified what was blocking this important step towards sensory cell regeneration in the organ of corti – a gene encoding a protein called p27^Kip1—And showed that this inhibitory protein was also high in the retina.

They created a transgenic mouse in which the level of p27^Kip1 Could be reduced in the inner ear and the retina to see how that would impact the priorition of progenitor cells in response in both organs.

In these mice, inhibiting the hippo pathway effectively caused support cells proliferation in the organ of corti, an important step towards the ear’s sensory cells.

In the retina, inhibiting the Hippo Pathway Induced The Proliferation of Progenitor Cells Known as Müller Glia. Surprisingly, the researchers discovered that some of the müller glia program, without further manipulation, converted to sensory photoreceptors and other neuronal cell types in the retina.

“There have been reports that p27^Kip1 Levels drop following injury, so that might offer a brief window of opportunity for using a Drug-Like Compound to Inhibit the Hippo Pathway and Encourage Regence in the Ear and the Eye, “SAID GNEDEVA.

“Alternatively, it could be possible to develop another Drug-Like Compound to Reduce P27^Kip1 Levels. So, our discoveries have identified potential new targets for stimulating the regeneration of both hearing and vision. “

Additional co-uthors are yeeun kim, kevin biju, and sanyukta oak from the ganedeva lab.