Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy.
Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via G. Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy.
Cell Death Dis. 2023 Sep 23;14(9):629. doi: 10.1038/s41419-023-06141-z.
Hearing loss (HL) is the most common and heterogeneous disorder of the sensory system, with a large morbidity in the worldwide population. Among cells of the acoustic nerve (VIII cranial nerve), in the cochlea are present the hair cells, the spiral ganglion neurons, the glia-like supporting cells, and the Schwann cells (SCs), which alterations have been considered cause of HL. Notably, a benign SC-derived tumor of the acoustic nerve, named vestibular schwannoma (VS), has been indicated as cause of HL. Importantly, SCs are the main glial cells ensheathing axons and forming myelin in the peripheral nerves. Following an injury, the SCs reprogram, expressing some stemness features. Despite the mechanisms and factors controlling their biological processes (i.e., proliferation, migration, differentiation, and myelination) have been largely unveiled, their role in VS and HL was poorly investigated. In this review, we enlighten some of the mechanisms at the base of SCs transformation, VS development, and progression, likely leading to HL, and we pose great attention on the environmental factors that, in principle, could contribute to HL onset or progression. Combining the biomolecular bench-side approach to the clinical bedside practice may be helpful for the diagnosis, prediction, and therapeutic approach in otology.
听力损失(HL)是感觉系统中最常见和最具异质性的疾病,在全球人口中有很高的发病率。在听神经(VIII 颅神经)的细胞中,耳蜗中存在毛细胞、螺旋神经节神经元、胶质样支持细胞和施万细胞(SCs),这些细胞的改变被认为是 HL 的原因。值得注意的是,一种良性的听神经衍生的肿瘤,称为前庭神经鞘瘤(VS),已被认为是 HL 的原因。重要的是,SCs 是包裹轴突并在外周神经中形成髓鞘的主要神经胶质细胞。在损伤后,SCs 会重新编程,表达一些干细胞特征。尽管控制其生物学过程(即增殖、迁移、分化和髓鞘形成)的机制和因素已被广泛揭示,但它们在 VS 和 HL 中的作用仍未得到充分研究。在这篇综述中,我们阐明了SCs 转化、VS 发展和进展导致 HL 的一些基础机制,并特别关注环境因素,这些因素原则上可能导致 HL 的发生或进展。将生物分子基础研究与临床床边实践相结合,可能有助于耳科学的诊断、预测和治疗方法。
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