Disclosed herein are methods and kits useful for providing neuroprotection to neurons in the inner ear and to methods of treating inner ear diseases and disorders, including tinnitus and Mnire's disease.

The present invention provides methods for modulating pluripotency of stem cells and proliferation of cancer cells. The modulation is achieved by promoting dephosphorylation of mRNA-binding protein 3 (RBM3) and down-regulating expression or cellular level of pluripotency factor LIN28. Related methods are provided in the invention for promoting differentiation of stem cells and for inhibiting growth of tumors in subjects. The therapeutic methods of the invention typically entail contacting with a target cell (e.g., a tumor cell) or administering to a subject harboring the target cell a calpain inhibitor and/or an IGF1R inhibitor. Some methods of the invention employ both a calpain inhibitor and an IGF 1R inhibitor.

The present disclosure discloses a polypeptide having an effect of inhibiting the proliferation of leukemia cells, and particularly relates to use of the polypeptide in a drug for treating leukemia. The polypeptide consists of 37 amino acids, with the amino acid sequence thereof being Lys-Glu-Ser-Met-Asp-Ala-Asn-Lys-Pro-Thr-Lys-Asn-Leu-Pro-Leu-Lys-Lys-Ile-Pro-Cys-Lys-Thr-Ser-Ala-Pro-Ser-Gln-Ser-Phe-Phe-Ala-Arg-Asp-Asn-Thr-Ala-Asn, and the N-terminus of the polypeptide being conjugated with myristate. The polypeptide prepared by the present disclosure can enter the leukemia cells by conjugating with the myristic acid, thereby achieving the effect of inhibiting the proliferation of the leukemic cells.