Gene Therapy Holds Promise for Reversing Congenital Hearing Loss

In recent news from Science daily gene therapy has come out with a new type of discovery in mice. A new gene has been found which could reverse hearing loss. Hearing loss is one of the most common human sensory deficits. This mainly results from damage from the hair cells in the inner part of the ear. About half have been recognized as genetic defects. But with the help of a gene coding protein called VGLUT3, (vesicular glutamate transporter-3), there has been enabling of hearing.

This was tested in the mouse model and the cause by the genetic defect in the mouse model of congenital deafness. The different treatments put out for patients with hearing loss can be resulted into simply enhancing sounds but not fully restore the normal hearing levels. Studies have been done using mice with the deafness in the protein VGLUT3. This protein is important in order to send signals to ensure hearing is enabled. This protein was injected and all the mice had hearing enable after two weeks.

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This therapy was ensured without any side effects, and proved to be successful. The therapy also corrected any other damages in the mice’s ears. This has been performed on mice and will not eventually be introduced into humans. With all the best research and constant experimenting there can be finally a way to inject this protein into humans who suffer from the deafness.

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