Stem Cell-Based Hair Cell Regeneration and Therapy in the Inner Ear / 神经科学通报·英文版

Hearing loss has become increasingly prevalent and causes considerable disability, thus gravely burdening the global economy. Irreversible loss of hair cells is a main cause of sensorineural hearing loss, and currently, the only relatively effective clinical treatments are limited to digital hearing equipment like cochlear implants and hearing aids, but these are of limited benefit in patients. It is therefore urgent to understand the mechanisms of damage repair in order to develop new neuroprotective strategies. At present, how to promote the regeneration of functional hair cells is a key scientific question in the field of hearing research. Multiple signaling pathways and transcriptional factors trigger the activation of hair cell progenitors and ensure the maturation of newborn hair cells, and in this article, we first review the principal mechanisms underlying hair cell reproduction. We then further discuss therapeutic strategies involving the co-regulation of multiple signaling pathways in order to induce effective functional hair cell regeneration after degeneration, and we summarize current achievements in hair cell regeneration. Lastly, we discuss potential future approaches, such as small molecule drugs and gene therapy, which might be applied for regenerating functional hair cells in the clinic.

IL-6 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration and invasion of papillary thyroid carcinoma TPC-1 cells by inducing lncTCF7 expression / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To investigate the effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) , migration and invasion of papillary thyroid carcinoma TPC-1 cells by inducing the expression of long noncoding RNA lnc TCF7.METHODS:The effects of IL-6 on the expression of lnc TCF7 in the TPC-1 cells were detected by RT-q PCR after the TPC-1 cells were treated with IL-6 at 0, 5, 10, 20 and 50μg/L for 24 h or with IL-6 at 50μg/L for 0, 6, 12 and 24 h.After the TPC-1 cells were treated with IL-6 at 50μg/L for 24 h, the effect of IL-6 on the protein expression of E-cadherin and vimentin in the TPC-1 cells was detected by Western blot.The TPC-1 cell line with lnc TCF7 over-expression was established, and the effects of lnc TCF7 over-expression on EMT, migration and invasion of the TPC-1 cells were measured by Western blot and Transwell assay.After knockdown of lnc TCF7 expression and exposure to IL-6 at 50μg/L, the effects of lnc TCF7 on EMT, migration and invasion of TPC-1 cells treated with IL-6 were observed.RESULTS:The expression of lnc TCF7 in the TPC-1 cells was induced by IL-6 in a dose-and time-dependent manner.The expression of E-cadherin was down-regulated, the expression of vimentin was up-regulated, and the migration and invasion abilities of the TPC-1 cells were enhanced by lnc TCF7 over-expression (P<0.05).The expression of E-cadherin was decreased, the expression of vimentin, Snail and Slug was increased, and the migration and invasion abilities of the TPC-1 cells and intercellular space were enhanced by IL-6.The above changes induced by IL-6 were significantly inhibited by knockdown of lnc TCF7expression.CONCLUSION:IL-6 promotes the EMT, migration and invasion of papillary thyroid carcinoma TPC-1 cells by inducing the expression of lnc TCF7.

Endoscopic transnasal prelacrimal recess-maxillary sinus approach for tumors in the pterygopalatine fossa / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the application of endoscopic transnasal prelacrimal recess-maxillary sinus approach in surgery for lesions in the pterygopalatine fossa.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Five patients with tumors of pterygopalatine fossa were treated by endoscopic transnasal prelacrimal recess-maxillary sinus surgery between May 2008 and May 2011. The lesions treated included 4 schwannoma. and 1 neurofibroma. The operation began with endoscopic transnasal lateral nasal wall approach to maxillary sinus. Then after opening posterior wall of maxillary sinus, the pterygopalatine fossa was entered and the tumor was removed. The operation was performed under hypotension anaesthesia.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The tumors were removed totally in all 5 patients. No complication was found. After the surgery, all patients fully recovered and were discharged from the hospital in 5 to 12 days. No recurrence and death occurred during the follow up periods ranging from 5 to 28 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Endoscopic transnasal prelacrimal recess-maxillary sinus approach is safe and effective management for benign tumors in the pterygopalatine fossa. This approach reserved nasolacrimal duct and turbinate, maintained the structure and function of the nose, with decreased morbidity and shorter recovery periods.</p>