It is also not known whether the stem cell will develop into the highly topographic, correctly orientated and frequency specific hair cells as is present in the normal cochlea. The high potassium concentration in normal endolymph fluid is highly toxic and is most likely to kill the injected stem cells. Injecting stem cells into the cochlea may damage residual hearing and elicit an immune response. There are numerous challenges that need to be addressed before stem cell therapy for the treatment of hearing loss can actually become a viable option. It is also postulated that the support cells maintain the ability, with the appropriate signal, to differentiate into hair cells. The 4 main target cells for stem cell therapy include cells of the stria vascularis, the hair cells, the supporting cells and the spiral ganglion/ nerve cells. Stria vasculararis (1), cochlear nerve (2), hair cells (3) and supporting cells (4). The target cells for stem cell therapy in hearing. Common conditions causing these types of sensory loses include presbyacusis (old age changes), ototoxicity, noise induced hearing loss and neuropathy. It is also utilized to replace damaged vestibular nerve and receptor cells, a promising prospect for patients with bilateral vestibular loss. Stem cell therapy for the treatment of hearing and vestibular loss focuses on sensorineural hearing loss due to structural damage in the cochlea or cochlear nerve. On the other hand, stem cells can also be harvested from embryos, thus from other people/persons and if in an ethical way considered a human being. These are all autologous cells, meaning it comes from the patient itself. It is nowadays a practice in South Africa to harvest these stem cells immediately after birth from the umbilical cord of babies and to store it for possible later use in life. In blood, fat, bone marrow, the Organ of Corti and vestibular apparatus of the inner ear, and even the central nervous system. Stem cells are researched and developed to replace cardiac muscle (like after a heart attack), blood cells (in leukaemia and lymphoma patients) and nerve cells (in Parkinson disease and other neuro-degenerative conditions).Īs said, stem cells are found in tissue throughout the human body. There are basically two types of stem cells, embryonic stem cells which are isolated from the embryo, as present during early human development, and adult stem cells which are found in adults throughout the body. They are present in all mammals, humans alike. (Modified from Wikepedia image)Ī stem cell is a non-differentiated living cell that has the potential to differentiate into specialised tissue and to produce more stem cells. Stem cells can restore inner ear structures.
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