Maniaci Antonino, Briglia Marilena, Allia Fabio, Montalbano Giuseppe, Romano Giovanni Luca, Zaouali Mohamed Amine, H'mida Dorra, Gagliano Caterina, Malaguarnera Roberta, Lentini Mario, Graziano Adriana Carol Eleonora, Giurdanella Giovanni
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna "Kore", 94100 Enna, Italy.
Department of Surgery, ENT Unit, Asp 7 Ragusa, 97100 Ragusa, Italy.
Biology (Basel). 2024 Oct 8;13(10):802. doi: 10.3390/biology13100802.
Inner ear disorders, including sensorineural hearing loss, Meniere's disease, and vestibular neuritis, are prevalent conditions that significantly impact the quality of life. Despite their high incidence, the underlying pathophysiology of these disorders remains elusive, and current treatment options are often inadequate. Emerging evidence suggests that pericytes, a type of vascular mural cell specialized to maintain the integrity and function of the microvasculature, may play a crucial role in the development and progression of inner ear disorders. The pericytes are present in the microvasculature of both the cochlea and the vestibular system, where they regulate blood flow, maintain the blood-labyrinth barrier, facilitate angiogenesis, and provide trophic support to neurons. Understanding their role in inner ear disorders may provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of these conditions and lead to the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, improving the standard of living. This comprehensive review aims to provide a detailed overview of the role of pericytes in inner ear disorders, highlighting the anatomy and physiology in the microvasculature, and analyzing the mechanisms that contribute to the development of the disorders. Furthermore, we explore the potential pericyte-targeted therapies, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and angiogenic approaches, as well as gene therapy strategies.
内耳疾病，包括感音神经性听力损失、梅尼埃病和前庭神经炎，是普遍存在的病症，会显著影响生活质量。尽管其发病率很高，但这些疾病的潜在病理生理学仍不清楚，目前的治疗选择往往并不充分。新出现的证据表明，周细胞是一种专门维持微血管完整性和功能的血管壁细胞，可能在内耳疾病的发生和发展中起关键作用。周细胞存在于耳蜗和前庭系统的微血管中，在那里它们调节血流、维持血迷路屏障、促进血管生成并为神经元提供营养支持。了解它们在内耳疾病中的作用可能为这些病症的病理生理学提供有价值的见解，并导致新的诊断和治疗策略的开发，从而改善生活水平。这篇综述旨在详细概述周细胞在内耳疾病中的作用，强调微血管的解剖结构和生理学，并分析导致这些疾病发生的机制。此外，我们还探讨了潜在的针对周细胞的治疗方法，包括抗氧化、抗炎和血管生成方法，以及基因治疗策略。
