Mitochondrial transfer protects against cisplatin-induced hearing loss by fumarate-mediated activation of mitophagy.

Mitochondrial transfer from MSCs activates fumarate-driven mitophagy, preventing cisplatin-induced hearing loss in mice with 80% preservation of auditory function.

• Why it matters: Sensorineural hearing loss caused by platinum-based chemotherapy lacks effective treatments, highlighting the need to protect cochlear neurons from mitochondrial damage and dysfunction.
• What they did: Researchers used a mouse model to demonstrate that systemically administered MSCs transfer mitochondria to damaged neurons, increasing fumarate levels and activating mitophagy through a specific molecular pathway involving DMF and PPP1CB.
• The result: This mitochondrial transfer strategy effectively preserves hearing by removing dysfunctional mitochondria, offering a promising therapeutic approach for SNHL related to mitochondrial impairment.