Hearing loss could be reversed with popular erectile dysfunction drug
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Researchers may have discovered a way to reverse one type of hearing loss.
A new study found that hearing loss caused by mutations in a certain gene at birth can be reversed with a common supplement along with the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra (sildenafil).
The researchers identified mutations in a gene known as CPD, which produces the enzyme carboxypeptidase D, among three unrelated families in Türkiye in which several people were born deaf.
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These families all had a form of inherited sensorineural hearing loss, a condition caused by damage to the small hair cells in the inner ear that convert sound vibrations into electrical signals sent to the brain, according to the National Institutes of Health.
To better understand the link, scientists compared genetic data from affected and unaffected relatives within these families. They then expanded their analysis to other groups.
A new study found that hearing loss caused by mutations in a certain gene at birth can be reversed with a common supplement along with the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra. (iStock)
“We subsequently found that CPD mutations are present in people with hearing loss in a large genome sequencing cohort from England,” study author Dr. Mustafa Tekin, professor of human genetics and chair of the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, told News Digital.
Laboratory and animal tests.
After “turning off” the CPD gene in human cells in laboratory tests, researchers noticed reduced levels of three substances: arginine (an amino acid), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP, an important signaling molecule), and nitric oxide, which provides vital signals to the nervous system.
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Although the study began with humans, reversal experiments were also carried out in mice and fruit flies.
When nitric oxide and cGMP levels were low, hair cells in the mice’s inner ears, which transmit sound signals to the brain, became excessively stressed and eventually died.
The authors emphasized that they do not propose Viagra as a treatment for hearing loss. (Alex Segre/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
In fruit flies, the researchers found that silencing the equivalent of the CPD gene caused defects in the organ that helps them detect sounds and stay balanced.
But when the researchers administered arginine to human cells, nitric oxide levels returned to normal, causing fewer cells to die.
They also found that Viagra, which acts on the nitric oxide pathway, reversed some of the deficits caused by the CPD mutations, Tekin added.
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These findings suggest that nitric oxide deficiency in the cochlea (the part of the inner ear that converts sound vibrations into nerve signals) may be a key factor in hearing loss. The CPD gene appears to regulate this process by maintaining adequate levels of arginine and nitric oxide in hair cells, which are essential for healthy signal transmission and protection against noise-related damage.
“Nitric oxide is vital for many tissues and must be maintained in a delicate balance,” Tekin said.
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The authors emphasized, however, that they do not propose Viagra as a treatment for hearing loss.
“We used it to bolster the argument that nitric oxide deficiency in the ear was the underlying cause of deafness,” Tekin noted.
Experts urge caution
Outside experts also warned of a major adverse side effect of Viagra.
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The medication has been associated with rare but serious cases of sudden hearing loss, as well as irreversible tinnitus, underscoring the need for caution, Dr. Nooshin Parhizkar, an otolaryngologist practicing in the San Francisco Bay area, told News Digital.
“At this time, it is neither appropriate nor safe for the general public to use Viagra for hearing problems,” he added.
Although scientists have identified more than 200 genes linked to hearing loss, commercial genetic screening tests may only focus on the most common mutations. (iStock)
Hearing loss is usually temporary and reversible after stopping the medication, research has shown.
The Food and Drug Administration added a warning label to Viagra and other PDE5 inhibitors about the possible risk of sudden hearing loss after rare reports among those who used the same class of medication.
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It is unclear whether this side effect is caused directly by PDE5 inhibitors, as affected patients may have other medical problems or could be taking other medications that could have caused hearing loss, according to experts.
Limitations of the study
The study focused on a very small, genetically defined group of patients, so it is unlikely to apply to the majority of the population, Parhizkar said.
“At this time, it is not appropriate or safe for the general public to use Viagra for hearing problems.”
As the research also focused on reversing hearing loss in mice and flies, more studies are needed to evaluate the treatment in humans.
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“It’s important to get genetic testing to find the cause of your hearing loss,” Tekin said.
Although scientists have identified more than 200 genes linked to hearing loss, commercial genetic screening tests may only focus on the most common mutations.
News Digital has reached out to the maker of Viagra for comment.