PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Yuan-Siao Chen AU - Ernesto Cabrera AU - Brady J Tucker AU - Timothy J Shin AU - Jasmine V Moawad AU - Douglas J Totten AU - Kevin T Booth AU - Rick F Nelson TI - TMPRSS3 expression is limited in spiral ganglion neurons: implication for successful cochlear implantation AID - 10.1136/jmg-2022-108654 DP - 2022 Dec 01 TA - Journal of Medical Genetics PG - 1219--1226 VI - 59 IP - 12 4099 - http://jmg.bmj.com/content/59/12/1219.short 4100 - http://jmg.bmj.com/content/59/12/1219.full SO - J Med Genet2022 Dec 01; 59 AB - Background It is well established that biallelic mutations in transmembrane protease, serine 3 (TMPRSS3) cause hearing loss. Currently, there is controversy regarding the audiological outcomes after cochlear implantation (CI) for TMPRSS3-associated hearing loss. This controversy creates confusion among healthcare providers regarding the best treatment options for individuals with TMPRSS3-related hearing loss.Methods A literature review was performed to identify all published cases of patients with TMPRSS3-associated hearing loss who received a CI. CI outcomes of this cohort were compared with published adult CI cohorts using postoperative consonant-nucleus-consonant (CNC) word performance. TMPRSS3 expression in mouse cochlea and human auditory nerves (HAN) was determined by using hybridisation chain reaction and single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis.Results In aggregate, 27 patients (30 total CI ears) with TMPRSS3-associated hearing loss treated with CI, and 85% of patients reported favourable outcomes. Postoperative CNC word scores in patients with TMPRSS3-associated hearing loss were not significantly different than those seen in adult CI cohorts (8 studies). Robust Tmprss3 expression occurs throughout the mouse organ of Corti, the spindle and root cells of the lateral wall and faint staining within <5% of the HAN, representing type II spiral ganglion neurons. Adult HAN express negligible levels of TMPRSS3.Conclusion The clinical features after CI and physiological expression of TMPRSS3 suggest against a major role of TMPRSS3 in auditory neurons.Data are available on reasonable request.