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Review
. 2012 Feb;25(1):57-60.
doi: 10.1097/WCO.0b013e32834f038c.

Cochlear gene therapy

Lawrence R Lustig  1 , Omar Akil
Affiliations
Review

Cochlear gene therapy

Lawrence R Lustig et al. Curr Opin Neurol. 2012 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose of review: This review highlights recent advances in cochlear gene therapy over the past several years. Cochlear gene therapy has undergone tremendous advances over the past decade. Beginning with some groundbreaking work in 2005 documenting hair cell regeneration using virally mediated delivery of the mouse atonal 1 gene, gene therapy is now being explored as a possible treatment for a variety of causes of hearing loss.

Recent findings: Recent advances in cochlear gene therapy include improved methods of gene delivery with a better delineation of viral vectors that are suitable for this purpose, additional improvements in hair cell regeneration, and directed research toward autoimmune hearing loss, ototoxicity, spiral ganglion survival, and genetic forms of hearing loss.

Summary: If successful, cochlear gene therapy will dramatically alter our ability to treat a variety of forms of acquired and genetic hearing loss.

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References

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