Study Identifies Source of Hair Cell Repair Function in Certain Animals

Hair cells aid the body's essential systems, collecting sensory information for both hearing and brain functions like balance and spatial orientation. Unfortunately, the damaging of these cells in mammals leads to permanent ramifications as the cells are unable to repair or regrow once injured. The cells' inability to regenerate is why loud noises can be so dangerous for our hearing: sounds over a certain decibel can overwork hair cells, leading to their death and irreversible hearing damage. Recently, scientists discovered that certain mammals like mice are able to regenerate hair cells at the very beginning of their lives (though they lose this function before they begin to hear), paving the way for researchers to study what controls this crucial biological function and potentially learn why other mammals do not have the same ability.

A team from Johns Hopkins Medicine has shed light on this topic by publishing the findings from their study on mice in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. During their research, scientists found a biological protein that functions as a “switch” and determines whether the hair cell regeneration capability is on or off a mouse. They concluded that without this particular protein (LIN28B), the hair cells couldn't repair themselves in a mouse. The researchers believe this discovery may help explain why other mammals, including humans, don’t possess the ability to regenerate hair cells, as well. While there is still much for researchers to learn about hair cells, they are hopeful that with continued studies and experimentation, they can gain the insights needed to create better treatments for hearing loss in the future! You can learn more about the study here.

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