\u201cMammals such as ourselves cannot regenerate hair cells in the inner ear,\u201d said study co-author Dr. Tatjana Piotrowski. \u201cAs we age or are subjected to prolonged noise exposure, we lose our hearing and balance.\u201d<\/p>\n Fish genes and hearing cells <\/p>\n The study was designed to investigate how zebrafish control cell division during hair cell regeneration. The team, led by Dr. Mark Lush, found two genes that regulate how two support cell<\/a> types divide.<\/p>\n The researchers used single-cell RNA sequencing and lineage tracing to uncover gene activity patterns. This helped them see which genes were responsible for maintaining stem cells and triggering regeneration.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring normal tissue maintenance and regeneration, cells need to proliferate to replace the cells that are dying or being shed \u2013 however, this only works if there are existing cells that can divide to replace them,\u201d said Piotrowski.<\/p>\n Why zebrafish offer rare insight<\/p>\n Zebrafish have sensory structures called neuromasts, which contain hair cells<\/a> resembling those in the human inner ear. These neuromasts are distributed in a line from head to tail and help detect water motion.<\/p>\n Because zebrafish larvae are transparent, scientists can observe their cells directly. The team studied how hair cells regrow using imaging, gene editing, and molecular tracing.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can manipulate genes and test which ones are important for regeneration,\u201d said Piotrowski. \u201cBy understanding how these cells regenerate in zebrafish, we hope to identify why similar regeneration does not occur in mammals and whether it might be possible to encourage this process in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Two genes control hearing cell repair<\/p>\n Within neuromasts, two groups of support cells drive regeneration<\/a>. Stem cells lie at the edges, while progenitor cells are in the center. The research team discovered two cyclinD genes, each linked to only one cell group.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we rendered one of these genes non-functional, only one population stopped dividing,\u201d said Piotrowski. <\/p>\n \u201cThis finding shows that different groups of cells within an organ can be controlled separately, which may help scientists understand cell growth in other tissues, such as the intestine or blood.\u201d<\/p>\n Uncoupling division and differentiation<\/p>\n When the progenitor-specific gene was removed, those cells stopped dividing but still turned into hair cells. This meant cell division wasn\u2019t always needed for differentiation. When the stem-cell gene was added to progenitors, their division restarted.<\/p>\n The ability to separate growth from differentiation could have broad biological implications.<\/p>\n The\u00a0study\u00a0illustrates this gene-switching in detail, using labeled cell populations and fluorescent markers to track regeneration.<\/p>\n \u201cOur findings have important implications for the understanding of how proliferation of symmetrically dividing stem and progenitor cells is controlled during homeostasis and disease,\u201d wrote the researchers.<\/p>\n Fish genes may help human hearing<\/p>\n Dr. David Raible, a professor at the University of Washington<\/a>, highlighted the significance of the research. <\/p>\n \u201cThis work illuminates an elegant mechanism for maintaining neuromast stem cells while promoting hair cell regeneration. It may help us investigate whether similar processes exist or could be activated in mammals,\u201d said Dr. Raible.<\/p>\n CyclinD genes also affect many human tissues, such as the gut, brain, skin, and blood. The findings in zebrafish may offer clues for regenerative therapies beyond hearing.<\/p>\n \u201cInsights from zebrafish hair cell regeneration could eventually inform research on other organs and tissues, both those that naturally regenerate and those that do not,\u201d said Piotrowski.<\/p>\n The study received funding from the NIH<\/a>, the Hearing Health Foundation<\/a>, and the Stowers Institute. The findings reflect the authors\u2019 views and not necessarily those of the NIH.<\/p>\n The study is published in the journal Nature Communications<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2014\u2013<\/p>\n Like what you read? Subscribe to our newsletter<\/a> for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.\u00a0<\/p>\n Check us out on EarthSnap<\/a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls<\/a> and Earth.com.<\/p>\n \u2014\u2013<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Humans have limited regenerative abilities compared to some animals. 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