Human Cochlear Stem Cells and the Aging Inner Ear

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Adult stem cells are present in a variety of tissues and organs including the cochlea, where they contribute to tissue homeostasis and plasticity by replacing or repairing injured cells throughout life. Nonsensory cells such as fibrocytes and intermediate cells in the lateral wall ofthe cochlea play an important role in the production of the endocochlear potential (EP). These cells have been shown to undergo continuous replenishment in the cochlea of young animals but this cell turnover decreases with age. Neural crest-derived stem cells (NCSCs), give rise to a wide variety of mesenchymal cell types including nonsensory cells in the cochlear lateral wall and changes in their activity may lead to the decrease in nonsensory cells with age which is a major pathological feature of metabolic presbyacusis. The maintenance and self-renewal of NCSCs is dependent on the integrity ofthe extracellular matrix (ECM). Our recent studies have shown a significant decline in the number of NCSC-like cells in the aged mouse cochlea as compared to younger controls. Parallel gene and protein analyses have revealed that the expression of genes for versican and several other ECM proteins in cochlear tissues is down-regulated with age in adult mice. We have also found that versican and its associated ECM proteins are present within the cochlear sphere niche and that depletion of versican results in elevated auditory thresholds in young adult mice. Analysis of microRNA (miRNA) levels in CBA/CaJ mice revealed an up-regulation of several ECM regulatory miRNAs at the age when lateral wall degeneration and EP declines first appear. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that age-dependent changes in ECM components and their regulatory molecules cause a reduction in the number and declines in the function of NCSCs, resulting in a depletion of non-sensory cells in the cochlear lateral wall and subsequent hearing loss. Three specific aims are proposed. Aim 4.1 determines the role of NCSCs in pathological alterations ofthe cochlear lateral wall and in the loss of auditory function in older mouse and human ears. Aim 4.2 tests the hypothesis that age-related ECM changes are responsible for the reduced number and functional declines of NCSCs in the cochlear lateral wall. Aim 4.3 identifies the miRNAs that regulate age-related changes in ECM components in metabolic presbyacusis using mouse models and human cochlear tissues obtained from temporal bone donors. These experiments will enhance our understanding ofthe fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for cochlear lateral wall dysfunction with age and the resultant metabolic presbyacusis.