Lead Roles for Supporting Actors: Critical Functions of Inner Ear Supporting Cells

Overview

Journal Hear Res

Specialty Otorhinolaryngology

Date 2013 Jan 26

PMID 23347917

Citations 48

Authors

Elyssa L Monzack

Lisa L Cunningham

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Many studies that aim to investigate the underlying mechanisms of hearing loss or balance disorders focus on the hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons of the inner ear. Fewer studies have examined the supporting cells that contact both of these cell types in the cochlea and vestibular end organs. While the roles of supporting cells are still being elucidated, emerging evidence indicates that they serve many functions vital to maintaining healthy populations of hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons. Here we review recent studies that highlight the critical roles supporting cells play in the development, function, survival, death, phagocytosis, and regeneration of other cell types within the inner ear. Many of these roles have also been described for glial cells in other parts of the nervous system, and lessons from these other systems continue to inform our understanding of supporting cell functions. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Annual Reviews 2013".

Citing Articles

Crosstalk Signaling Between the Epithelial and Non-Epithelial Compartments of the Mouse Inner Ear.

David A, Biswas S, Soltis M, Eltawil Y, Zhou R, Easow S J Assoc Res Otolaryngol. 2025; .

PMID: 40080263 DOI: 10.1007/s10162-025-00980-7.

is Required to Maintain Supporting Cell Identity and Vestibular Function during Maturation of the Mammalian Balance Organs.

Heffer A, Lee C, Mayernik J, Holt J, Kiernan A J Neurosci. 2025; 45(9).

PMID: 39779370 PMC: 11867012. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1365-24.2024.

is required to maintain supporting cell identity and vestibular function during maturation of the mammalian balance organs.

Heffer A, Lee C, Holt J, Kiernan A bioRxiv. 2024; .

PMID: 38948821 PMC: 11212955. DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.21.600098.

Trametinib, a MEK1/2 Inhibitor, Protects Mice from Cisplatin- and Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.

Lutze R, Ingersoll M, Kelmann R, Teitz T Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2024; 17(6).

PMID: 38931403 PMC: 11206450. DOI: 10.3390/ph17060735.

FDA-Approved MEK1/2 Inhibitor, Trametinib, Protects Mice from Cisplatin and Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.

Lutze R, Ingersoll M, Kelmann R, Teitz T bioRxiv. 2024; .

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