<p>The human utricle is a vestibular organ essential for balance, a function that declines with age. With the aging population projected to double to 2 billion by 2050 and no pharmaceutical or biological treatments available, balance disorders represent a significant unmet medical need. The utricle is composed of sensory and non-sensory cells, which are closely related. Non-sensory cells have limited capacity to regenerate sensory cells and, therefore, are a relevant therapeutic target. In this work, we profile the cellular and transcriptional landscape of the adult human utricle and its early response to ototoxic damage using bulk and single-cell RNA-sequencing of patient-derived samples. We identify six transcriptionally distinct non-sensory cell types, including a previously uncharacterized supporting cell-like population, demonstrating utricular heterogeneity. Following aminoglycoside-induced damage, we detect early transcriptional changes consistent with a capacity to respond to ototoxic damage within 24 hours and potentially initiate a regenerative response via an early-responding cell population, providing a foundation for regenerative strategies for balance recovery.</p>

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Revealing heterogeneity and damage response in the adult human utricle

  • Emilia Luca,
  • Neke Ibeh,
  • Ryosuke Yamamoto,
  • Weisheng Liang,
  • Dallas Bennett,
  • Vincent Lin,
  • Joseph Chen,
  • Michael Lovett,
  • Alain Dabdoub

摘要

The human utricle is a vestibular organ essential for balance, a function that declines with age. With the aging population projected to double to 2 billion by 2050 and no pharmaceutical or biological treatments available, balance disorders represent a significant unmet medical need. The utricle is composed of sensory and non-sensory cells, which are closely related. Non-sensory cells have limited capacity to regenerate sensory cells and, therefore, are a relevant therapeutic target. In this work, we profile the cellular and transcriptional landscape of the adult human utricle and its early response to ototoxic damage using bulk and single-cell RNA-sequencing of patient-derived samples. We identify six transcriptionally distinct non-sensory cell types, including a previously uncharacterized supporting cell-like population, demonstrating utricular heterogeneity. Following aminoglycoside-induced damage, we detect early transcriptional changes consistent with a capacity to respond to ototoxic damage within 24 hours and potentially initiate a regenerative response via an early-responding cell population, providing a foundation for regenerative strategies for balance recovery.