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Updated: Oct 31, 2025

Initiating Differentiation in Immortalized Multipotent Otic Progenitor Cells
Published on: January 2, 2016
Key Signaling Pathways Regulate the Development and Survival of Auditory Hair Cells
Yao Liu1,2,3,4,5, Mei Wei1,2,3,4,5, Xiang Mao1,2,3,4,5
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital, 300192 Tianjin, China.
Abstract:
The loss of auditory sensory hair cells (HCs) is the most common cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). As the main sound transmission structure in the cochlea, it is necessary to maintain the normal shape and survival of HCs. In this review, we described and summarized the signaling pathways that regulate the development and survival of auditory HCs in SNHL. The role of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphoinositide-3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), Notch/Wnt/Atoh1, calcium channels, and oxidative stress/reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling pathways are the most relevant. The molecular interactions of these signaling pathways play an important role in the survival of HCs, which may provide a theoretical basis and possible therapeutic interventions for the treatment of hearing loss.
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