Chinese researchers reported significant success in treating congenital deafness: according to a study published in Nature, gene therapy restored hearing in approximately 90% of the participants in the experiment. Improvements in patients with complete hearing loss began to manifest just a few weeks after treatment.
The study involved 42 individuals with complete hearing loss. Some of them were treated in only one ear. After a few weeks, patients began to show signs of hearing restoration, and the achieved effect was maintained after 12 months.
Further observations revealed that after two years, all participants for whom the therapy was effective were able to distinguish normal speech, and some could even hear whispers. However, no improvements were recorded in four individuals, and the reasons for this remain unknown.
Experts note that one common cause of congenital deafness is a mutation in the OTOF gene. This gene is responsible for producing a protein necessary for converting sound vibrations in the inner ear into signals sent to the brain. When this mechanism is disrupted, hearing is lost.
The essence of the developed approach lies in delivering a correct copy of the gene into the cells using a special virus. This allows for the restoration of the sound conversion mechanism and the return of hearing function.
The results of the study show that delivering a correct copy of the OTOF gene can effectively restore hearing function by addressing one of the key causes of congenital deafness, as reported by bb.lv. Despite some cases with no effect, the technology opens up prospects for mass application, although it requires further research to understand its limitations and long-term safety.
