[Study on the induced differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells into cochlear hair cell-like cells and spiral ganglion neuron-like cells in vitro].

Objective: In this study, we investigated the potential of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) for use as a source of transplants for the restoration of auditory hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons.
Methods: We co-cultured the mouse iPSC with the cells of the cochlear organ of Corti or the modiolus in vitro. The cochlear organ of Corti (which contains cochlear hair cells) and the modiolus (which contains auditory spiral ganglion neurons) were obtained from postnatal day 3 (P3) CD-1 ICR mice. After 18 days of coculture with the cells of newborn mouse cochleae. The expressions of hair cell markers (Myosin VIIa, Math1, Calretinin, Espin) and Spiral ganglion neuron markers [Nestin, Neurofilament-M, β-III Tubulin, Vesicular glutamate transporter 1(VGluT1)] were detected by immunocytochemical analysis.
Results: Immunocytochemical analysis results indicated that the differentiated iPSC expressed auditory hair cell markers (MyosinVIIa,Math1, Calretinin, Espin ) and spiral ganglion markers (Nestin, Neurofilament-M,β-III Tubulin,VGluT1).
Conclusion: Mouse iPSC in virto cultured could successfully be induced to differentiate into hair cell-like cells and spiral ganglion-like cells with hair cell and spiral ganglion molecular markers.