Hong-Bo Zhao, MD, PhD
Professor of Surgery (Otolaryngology)Cards
Additional Titles
Professor, Surgery - Otolaryngology
Contact Info
Yale School of Medicine
310 Cedar Street, BML 227
New Haven, CT 06510
United States
Appointments
Additional Titles
Professor, Surgery - Otolaryngology
Contact Info
Yale School of Medicine
310 Cedar Street, BML 227
New Haven, CT 06510
United States
Appointments
Additional Titles
Professor, Surgery - Otolaryngology
Contact Info
Yale School of Medicine
310 Cedar Street, BML 227
New Haven, CT 06510
United States
About
Titles
Professor of Surgery (Otolaryngology)
Professor, Surgery - Otolaryngology
Biography
Our auditory research lab currently mainly focuses on 1) deafness mechanisms underlying Cx26 (GJB2) gap junction gene mutations induced hearing loss, 2) mechanisms underlying noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy and hearing loss, and 3) functional and pathological changes of Alzheimer's disease in hearing system. Based on these studies, we are planning to develop gene therapy for Cx26 mutation induced deafness, which is responsible for >50% of nonsyndromic heretical hearing loss in clinic. We will also develop a post-noise treatment, and identify and provide early hearing biomarkers for early AD detection. Both of them have important significance in treatment of noise-induced hearing loss and the AD prevention and treatment.
Appointments
Otolaryngology Surgery
ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Center for Brain & Mind Health
- Otolaryngology Surgery
Education & Training
- PhD
- Shanghai Institute of Physiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Auditory Neuroscience (1992)
- MS
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Biomedical Engineering (1989)
- MD
- Three Gorges University Medical School, Medicine (1982)
Research
ORCID
0000-0002-1189-2142
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Joseph Santos-Sacchi, PhD
Publications
2024
Hearing loss promotes Alzheimer’s disease
Zhao H, Yang Y. Hearing loss promotes Alzheimer’s disease. Nature Aging 2024, 4: 443-444. PMID: 38491290, DOI: 10.1038/s43587-024-00606-2.Commentaries, Editorials and Letters
2023
Cx26 heterozygous mutations cause hyperacusis-like hearing oversensitivity and increase susceptibility to noise
Liu L, Liang C, Chen J, Fang S, Zhao H. Cx26 heterozygous mutations cause hyperacusis-like hearing oversensitivity and increase susceptibility to noise. Science Advances 2023, 9: eadf4144. PMID: 36753545, PMCID: PMC9908021, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf4144.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsActive cochlear amplificationCochlear amplificationHeterozygous mutationsPermanent hearing threshold shiftHearing threshold shiftCochlear lateral wallNonsyndromic hearing lossHearing lossMouse modelGeneral populationNoise exposureThreshold shiftHeterozygote carriersHearing sensitivityLateral wallJunction genesGap junction genesPotential generationUnexpected findingExposureMutationsOversensitivityProtein prestinDeafness
2021
Efferent neurons control hearing sensitivity and protect hearing from noise through the regulation of gap junctions between cochlear supporting cells
Zhao H, Liu L, Yu N, Zhu Y, Mei L, Chen J, Liang C. Efferent neurons control hearing sensitivity and protect hearing from noise through the regulation of gap junctions between cochlear supporting cells. Journal Of Neurophysiology 2021, 127: 313-327. PMID: 34907797, PMCID: PMC8759971, DOI: 10.1152/jn.00468.2021.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsOuter hair cellsActive cochlear amplificationCochlear efferent systemDistortion product otoacoustic emissionsEfferent systemEfferent pathwaysHearing sensitivityMedial olivocochlear efferent fibersPresynaptic vesicular acetylcholine transportersGap junctionsOlivocochlear efferent fibersHair cellsApplication of acetylcholineCochlear supporting cellsProtection of hearingVesicular acetylcholine transporterActive cochlear amplifierCochlear amplificationPostsynaptic ACh receptorsProduct otoacoustic emissionsMOC efferent systemHair cell activityEfferent nervesEfferent inhibitionEfferent fibersEarly Functional and Cognitive Declines Measured by Auditory-Evoked Cortical Potentials in Mice With Alzheimer’s Disease
Mei L, Liu L, Chen K, Zhao H. Early Functional and Cognitive Declines Measured by Auditory-Evoked Cortical Potentials in Mice With Alzheimer’s Disease. Frontiers In Aging Neuroscience 2021, 13: 710317. PMID: 34588972, PMCID: PMC8473830, DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.710317.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAuditory cortexCognitive declineEvent-related potentialsCortical potentialsCognitive activityCognitive changesNeural activationAD-related dementiaAD micePeak N2APP/PS1 AD miceAmyloid precursor proteinAlzheimer's diseasePeak P3AuditoryAuditory brainstem response recordingsNormal aging effectP1 peakCBA/CaJ micePeak P1Subdermal needle electrodesObjective biomarkersP3AECPCBA miceExcess extracellular K+ causes inner hair cell ribbon synapse degeneration
Zhao H, Zhu Y, Liu L. Excess extracellular K+ causes inner hair cell ribbon synapse degeneration. Communications Biology 2021, 4: 24. PMID: 33398038, PMCID: PMC7782724, DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01532-w.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCochlear synaptopathySynapse degenerationRibbon synapsesNoise exposureNoise-induced cochlear synaptopathyInner hair cell ribbon synapsesIHC ribbon synapsesGlutamate receptor agonistsBK channel blockersHair cell ribbon synapsesReceptor agonistFirst synapseChannel blockersHearing lossIHC ribbonsHearing disordersDegenerationBK channelsPotential targetSynaptopathyAuditory systemSynapsesExposureSwellingExcitotoxicity
2019
Hearing loss is an early biomarker in APP/PS1 Alzheimer’s disease mice
Liu Y, Fang S, Liu L, Zhu Y, Li C, Chen K, Zhao H. Hearing loss is an early biomarker in APP/PS1 Alzheimer’s disease mice. Neuroscience Letters 2019, 717: 134705. PMID: 31870800, PMCID: PMC7004828, DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134705.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAPP/PS1 AD miceDistortion product otoacoustic emissionsAuditory brainstem responseAD miceHearing lossAlzheimer's diseaseDisease miceAPP/PS1 Alzheimer's disease miceAPP/PS1 miceAD mouse modelAlzheimer's disease miceMedial geniculate bodyWild-type littermatesCochlear microphonic recordingsProduct otoacoustic emissionsMonths of ageSpatial learning deficitsPS1 miceUpper brainstemABR thresholdFunction testingGeniculate bodyBrainstem responseLateral lemniscusEarly biomarkers
2018
Knockout of Pannexin-1 Induces Hearing Loss
Chen J, Liang C, Zong L, Zhu Y, Zhao H. Knockout of Pannexin-1 Induces Hearing Loss. International Journal Of Molecular Sciences 2018, 19: 1332. PMID: 29710868, PMCID: PMC5983795, DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051332.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsDistortion product otoacoustic emissionsHearing lossKO miceKO mouse lineMouse linesCochlear microphonicsAuditory brainstem response thresholdActive cochlear amplificationPanx1 KO miceAuditory function testsProduct otoacoustic emissionsKnockout mouse lineFunction testsNonsyndromic hearing lossABR thresholdHearing functionHigh incidenceRecent studiesGap junctional proteinReceptor currentsOtoacoustic emissionsMiceCochlear amplificationConsistent phenotypeResponse threshold
2017
P2X2 Dominant Deafness Mutations Have No Negative Effect on Wild-Type Isoform: Implications for Functional Rescue and in Deafness Mechanism
Zhu Y, Beudez J, Yu N, Grutter T, Zhao H. P2X2 Dominant Deafness Mutations Have No Negative Effect on Wild-Type Isoform: Implications for Functional Rescue and in Deafness Mechanism. Frontiers In Molecular Neuroscience 2017, 10: 371. PMID: 29180951, PMCID: PMC5693881, DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00371.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA deafness mechanism of digenic Cx26 (GJB2) and Cx30 (GJB6) mutations: Reduction of endocochlear potential by impairment of heterogeneous gap junctional function in the cochlear lateral wall
Mei L, Chen J, Zong L, Zhu Y, Liang C, Jones R, Zhao H. A deafness mechanism of digenic Cx26 (GJB2) and Cx30 (GJB6) mutations: Reduction of endocochlear potential by impairment of heterogeneous gap junctional function in the cochlear lateral wall. Neurobiology Of Disease 2017, 108: 195-203. PMID: 28823936, PMCID: PMC5675824, DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2017.08.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCochlear lateral wallEndocochlear potentialHearing lossGap junctional functionDeafness mechanismLateral wallHeterozygous miceCx30 mutationsHair cell degenerationHomozygous knockout miceJunctional functionHeterozygous mouse modelGap junctionsOrgan of CortiSame gap junctional plaquesEP reductionFrequent causePathological changesMouse modelKnockout miceReceptor currentsCell degenerationNormal hearingHeterozygous mutationsMiceHypothesis of K+-Recycling Defect Is Not a Primary Deafness Mechanism for Cx26 (GJB2) Deficiency
Zhao H. Hypothesis of K+-Recycling Defect Is Not a Primary Deafness Mechanism for Cx26 (GJB2) Deficiency. Frontiers In Molecular Neuroscience 2017, 10: 162. PMID: 28603488, PMCID: PMC5445178, DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00162.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHearing lossDeafness mechanismCx26 deficiencyInner ear gap junctionsHair cell degenerationNonsyndromic hearing lossDisruption of permeabilityCongenital deafnessCell degenerationHair cellsHair cell excitationHereditary deafnessCell excitationConnexin26 MutationsGap junctional channelsGap junctionsDevelopmental disordersDeficiencyDeafnessExtracellular spaceReview articleJunctional channelsDegeneration
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
activity The Board of Permanent Officers (BPO), Yale University Medical School
CommitteesBoard MemberDetails07/01/2023 - Presentactivity NIH, CDRC, BTEN, AUD, ZAG1, and NTRC study section
Peer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsAd-hoc MemberDetails2021 - Presentactivity ARO Travel Award Committee
Professional OrganizationsBoard MemberDetails07/01/2024 - Present
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Yale School of Medicine
310 Cedar Street, BML 227
New Haven, CT 06510
United States
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310 Cedar Street, Rm BML 227
New Haven, CT 06510
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