Cystic fibrosis alters the structure of the olfactory epithelium and the expression of olfactory receptors affecting odor perception.

ABSTRACT: A reduced sense of smell is a common condition in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) that negatively affects their quality of life. While often attributed to nasal mucosa inflammation, the underlying causes of the olfactory loss remain unknown. Here, we characterized gene expression in olfactory epithelium cells from patients with CF using single-nuclei RNA sequencing and found altered expression of olfactory receptors (ORs) and genes related to progenitor cell proliferation. We confirmed these findings in newborn, inflammation-free samples of a CF animal model and further identified ultrastructural alterations in the olfactory epithelium and bulbs of these animals. We established that CFTR, the anion channel whose dysfunction causes CF, is dispensable for odor-evoked signaling in sensory ne

SUBMITTER: Caballero I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11870070 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature