Qu YJ, Wang JY, Wang Z, Yao W, Xia ZF. Stem cell-based strategies for hearing restoration: Current advances and future perspectives. World J Stem Cells 2026; 18(7): 122823 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.122823]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Zhong-Fang Xia, PhD, Chief, Department of Otolaryngology, Wuhan Children’s Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 100 Xianggang Road, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China. zhfxia2005@163.com
Research Domain of This Article
Otorhinolaryngology
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review-article
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Qu YJ, Wang JY, Wang Z, Yao W, Xia ZF. Stem cell-based strategies for hearing restoration: Current advances and future perspectives. World J Stem Cells 2026; 18(7): 122823 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.122823]
Yan-Ji Qu, Wei Yao, Zhong-Fang Xia, Department of Otolaryngology, Wuhan Children’s Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
Jia-Yu Wang, Department of Medical Ultrasound, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
Zhe Wang, Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
Co-first authors: Yan-Ji Qu and Jia-Yu Wang.
Co-corresponding authors: Wei Yao and Zhong-Fang Xia.
Author contributions: Qu YJ and Wang JY conceptualized and designed the study, they contributed equally to this manuscript and are co-first authors; Qu YJ wrote the manuscript; Wang Z collected the data; Yao W and Xia ZF revised and approved the manuscript, they contributed equally to this manuscript and are co-corresponding authors; and all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: The authors take full responsibility and accountability for all content of this manuscript, including the parts where AI tools were used as an auxiliary technology for grammar and readability improvements. All AI-assisted outputs were carefully reviewed, validated, and approved by the authors. AI tools were not used to generate original scientific data, perform independent scientific analyses, or draw scientific conclusions.
Supported by the Funding for Scientific Research Projects from Wuhan Municipal Health Commission, No. WX23Q01; and the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province of China, No. 2023AFB328 and No. 2025AFB091.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Zhong-Fang Xia, PhD, Chief, Department of Otolaryngology, Wuhan Children’s Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 100 Xianggang Road, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China. zhfxia2005@163.com
Received: May 7, 2026 Revised: June 4, 2026 Accepted: June 30, 2026 Published online: July 26, 2026 Processing time: 85 Days and 0.2 Hours
Abstract
Hearing loss is a growing global health concern. Sensorineural hearing loss is the most prevalent and intractable type. Current treatment options offer limited benefits and fail to restore hearing at its root cause, highlighting an urgent need to address the irreversible loss of hair cells and develop strategies for hearing restoration. Recent advances in stem cell-based strategies have opened promising avenues for inner ear regeneration. Progress in stem cell-derived cochlear organoids, which highly mimic native inner ear cells, not only facilitates the study of disease mechanisms and drug toxicity testing but also serves as a critical cell source for future stem cell therapies. This review summarizes the latest progress in stem cell research for hearing loss and discusses the regulation of auditory cell fate, optimization of stem cell sources and delivery routes, modulation of the immune microenvironment, and the application of organoid platforms. With deeper interdisciplinary integration, stem cell-based therapies are expected to fundamentally transform the treatment landscape for hearing impairment.
Core Tip: Sensorineural hearing loss remains difficult to reverse as current treatments mainly compensate for dysfunction rather than restore damaged cochlear cells. This review highlights recent progress in stem cell-based hearing restoration, focusing on stem cell sources, auditory cell fate regulation, delivery optimization, immune microenvironment modulation, and cochlear organoids. It further emphasizes the emerging value of organoid platforms and cell-free strategies in advancing translational and regenerative therapies for hearing loss.
