EGFR Signaling Is Required for Regenerative Proliferation in the Cochlea: Conservation in Birds and Mammals

The study demonstrated that EGFR signaling was crucial for the regenerative proliferation of supporting cells in the cochlea, a process conserved between birds and mammals. In both mice and chickens, EGFR signaling, along with PI3K activity, was necessary for supporting cell proliferation following hair cell loss. The research highlighted that EGFR signaling led to the down-regulation of the CDK-inhibitor p27Kip1, which kept supporting cells in a quiescent state. These findings suggested potential therapeutic targets for hair cell regeneration in mammals, as the latent regenerative capacity observed in avian species could be activated in mammalian supporting cells under specific conditions.