Molecular mechanisms that regulate auditory hair-cell differentiation in the mammalian cochlea

Author: Zine, Azel

Source: Molecular Neurobiology, Volume 27, Number 2, April 2003 , pp. 223-237(15)

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Abstract:

Mechanosensory hair cells of the vertebrate cochlea offer an excellent developmental system to study cell-fate specification, and to gain insight into the many human neurological deficits which result in a hearing loss, by affecting primarily the hair cells. Therefore, there is great interest in studying the molecular mechanisms that regulate their specification and differentiation.

Recent studies, based mostly on loss-of-function experiments that target the role of Notch signaling and basic helix-loop-helix genes in inner-ear development have indicated that they can regulate mechanosensory hair cell-fate specification and their initial differentiation.

Keywords: Hair cell; supporting cell; inner ear; cochlea; organ of Corti; cell-fate specification; differentiation; Notch signaling; bHLH transcription factor

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1385/MN:27:2:223

Affiliations: 1: Institute des Neurosciences de Montpellier, INSERM U583, Université de Montpellier I, 34090, Montpellier, France, Email: zine@montp.inserm.fr

Publication date: 2003-04-01