Long‐Lasting Auditory and Vestibular Recovery Following Gene Replacement Therapy in a Novel Usher Syndrome Type 1c Mouse Model

Abstract Usher syndrome type 1C (USH1C) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the USH1C gene, which encodes harmonin, a key component of the mechanoelectrical transduction complex in auditory and vestibular hair cells. USH1C leads to deafness and vestibular dysfunction in humans. An Ush1c kno...

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Main Authors: Weinan Du, Jun Huang, Aizhen Zhang, Fangfang Zhao, Tianwen Chen, Quinn M. McDermott, Tony Zheng, Haibo Wang, Rongli Zhang, Xiaolin Zhang, Jerome Allison, Hong Zhu, Wu Zhou, Qing Yin Zheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Advanced Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202410063
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author Weinan Du
Jun Huang
Aizhen Zhang
Fangfang Zhao
Tianwen Chen
Quinn M. McDermott
Tony Zheng
Haibo Wang
Rongli Zhang
Xiaolin Zhang
Jerome Allison
Hong Zhu
Wu Zhou
Qing Yin Zheng
author_facet Weinan Du
Jun Huang
Aizhen Zhang
Fangfang Zhao
Tianwen Chen
Quinn M. McDermott
Tony Zheng
Haibo Wang
Rongli Zhang
Xiaolin Zhang
Jerome Allison
Hong Zhu
Wu Zhou
Qing Yin Zheng
author_sort Weinan Du
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Usher syndrome type 1C (USH1C) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the USH1C gene, which encodes harmonin, a key component of the mechanoelectrical transduction complex in auditory and vestibular hair cells. USH1C leads to deafness and vestibular dysfunction in humans. An Ush1c knockout (KO) mouse model displaying these characteristic deficits is generated in our laboratory. To examine gene replacement therapy (GT) in this model, a synthetic adeno‐associated viral vector, Anc80L65, driving harmonin expression is administered, to the inner ears of Ush1c KO mice at postnatal day 2 (P2). Remarkably, this single treatment significantly improved auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds and balance motor function at 1 month post‐injection, with these effects persisting for up to 10 months. At 12 months post‐treatment, the vestibular function is assessed using the vestibular‐ocular reflexes (VOR) and single vestibular afferent recordings. The GT treatment significantly restored both the canal and otolith VORs and increased vestibular afferent spontaneous firing rates and responses to head rotation and translation. These findings provide the first evidence of long‐lasting restoration of both the auditory and vestibular functions by GT in a novel mouse model of Usher syndrome, highlighting the potential of GT for treating deficits associated with USH1C.
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spelling doaj-art-2a9025a0831a4d6e8e0a1d2c26547ca62025-08-20T03:40:00ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-08-011229n/an/a10.1002/advs.202410063Long‐Lasting Auditory and Vestibular Recovery Following Gene Replacement Therapy in a Novel Usher Syndrome Type 1c Mouse ModelWeinan Du0Jun Huang1Aizhen Zhang2Fangfang Zhao3Tianwen Chen4Quinn M. McDermott5Tony Zheng6Haibo Wang7Rongli Zhang8Xiaolin Zhang9Jerome Allison10Hong Zhu11Wu Zhou12Qing Yin Zheng13Department of Otolaryngology Case Western Reserve University Cleveland OH 44106 USADepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson MS 39216 USADepartment of Otolaryngology Case Western Reserve University Cleveland OH 44106 USADepartment of Otolaryngology Case Western Reserve University Cleveland OH 44106 USADepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson MS 39216 USADepartment of Otolaryngology Case Western Reserve University Cleveland OH 44106 USADepartment of Otolaryngology Case Western Reserve University Cleveland OH 44106 USADepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital Shandong University Jinan Shandong 250022 ChinaCase Cardiovascular Research Institute Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland OH 44106 USADepartment of Otolaryngology Binzhou Medical University Hospital Binzhou 256603 ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson MS 39216 USADepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson MS 39216 USADepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson MS 39216 USADepartment of Otolaryngology Case Western Reserve University Cleveland OH 44106 USAAbstract Usher syndrome type 1C (USH1C) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the USH1C gene, which encodes harmonin, a key component of the mechanoelectrical transduction complex in auditory and vestibular hair cells. USH1C leads to deafness and vestibular dysfunction in humans. An Ush1c knockout (KO) mouse model displaying these characteristic deficits is generated in our laboratory. To examine gene replacement therapy (GT) in this model, a synthetic adeno‐associated viral vector, Anc80L65, driving harmonin expression is administered, to the inner ears of Ush1c KO mice at postnatal day 2 (P2). Remarkably, this single treatment significantly improved auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds and balance motor function at 1 month post‐injection, with these effects persisting for up to 10 months. At 12 months post‐treatment, the vestibular function is assessed using the vestibular‐ocular reflexes (VOR) and single vestibular afferent recordings. The GT treatment significantly restored both the canal and otolith VORs and increased vestibular afferent spontaneous firing rates and responses to head rotation and translation. These findings provide the first evidence of long‐lasting restoration of both the auditory and vestibular functions by GT in a novel mouse model of Usher syndrome, highlighting the potential of GT for treating deficits associated with USH1C.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202410063USH1Charmoningene replacement therapyauditoryvestibularAAV
spellingShingle Weinan Du
Jun Huang
Aizhen Zhang
Fangfang Zhao
Tianwen Chen
Quinn M. McDermott
Tony Zheng
Haibo Wang
Rongli Zhang
Xiaolin Zhang
Jerome Allison
Hong Zhu
Wu Zhou
Qing Yin Zheng
Long‐Lasting Auditory and Vestibular Recovery Following Gene Replacement Therapy in a Novel Usher Syndrome Type 1c Mouse Model
Advanced Science
USH1C
harmonin
gene replacement therapy
auditory
vestibular
AAV
title Long‐Lasting Auditory and Vestibular Recovery Following Gene Replacement Therapy in a Novel Usher Syndrome Type 1c Mouse Model
title_full Long‐Lasting Auditory and Vestibular Recovery Following Gene Replacement Therapy in a Novel Usher Syndrome Type 1c Mouse Model
title_fullStr Long‐Lasting Auditory and Vestibular Recovery Following Gene Replacement Therapy in a Novel Usher Syndrome Type 1c Mouse Model
title_full_unstemmed Long‐Lasting Auditory and Vestibular Recovery Following Gene Replacement Therapy in a Novel Usher Syndrome Type 1c Mouse Model
title_short Long‐Lasting Auditory and Vestibular Recovery Following Gene Replacement Therapy in a Novel Usher Syndrome Type 1c Mouse Model
title_sort long lasting auditory and vestibular recovery following gene replacement therapy in a novel usher syndrome type 1c mouse model
topic USH1C
harmonin
gene replacement therapy
auditory
vestibular
AAV
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202410063
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