The chromatin remodeler Brg1 is essential for cochlear sensory epithelium differentiation and patterning

The development of the organ of Corti requires the coordination of cell differentiation and patterning, which results in the formation of unique functional units critical for sound detection. Here, we investigated the role of the epigenetic factor Brg1 during the differentiation and development of the auditory sensory epithelium, a crucial period for the formation of the organ of Corti. Our findings indicate that deletion of Brg1 leads to premature hair cell (HC) differentiation by inactivating Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling. Despite the formation of HCs, subsequent differentiation of inner hair cells (IHCs) and outer hair cells (OHCs) was impaired. Additionally, we observed that the mosaic-like arrangement of HCs and supporting cells (SCs) was disrupted resulting in abnormal sensory epithelium patterning. Furthermore, we found the planar cell polarity of the Brg1-deficient cochlea was abnormal. Our study demonstrates the pivotal role of Brg1 in the differentiation and patterning of the auditory sensory epithelium. Overall design: Comparative gene expression profiling analysis of RNA-seq data for different samples from konck out Brg1 or Control groups.