Expression of pax6 and sox2 in adult olfactory epithelium.

ABSTRACT: The olfactory epithelium maintains stem and progenitor cells that support the neuroepithelium's life-long capacity to reconstitute after injury. However, the identity of the stem cells--and their regulation--remain poorly defined. The transcription factors Pax6 and Sox2 are characteristic of stem cells in many tissues, including the brain. Therefore, we assessed the expression of Pax6 and Sox2 in normal olfactory epithelium and during epithelial regeneration after methyl bromide lesion or olfactory bulbectomy. Sox2 is found in multiple kinds of cells in normal epithelium, including sustentacular cells, horizontal basal cells, and some globose basal cells. Pax6 is co-expressed with Sox2 in all these, but is also found in duct/gland cells as well as olfactory neurons that innervate necklace

SUBMITTER: Guo Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2940252 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature