Human olfactory epithelial cells generated in vitro express diverse neuronal characteristics.

ABSTRACT: The olfactory epithelium constitutes the sole source of regenerating neural cells that can be obtained from a living human. As such, primary cultures derived from human olfactory epithelial biopsies can be utilized to study neurobiological characteristics of individuals under different conditions and disease states. Here, using such human cultures, we report in vitro generation of cells that exhibit a complex neuronal phenotype, encompassing receptors and signaling pathways pertinent to both olfaction and other aspects of CNS function. Using in situ hybridization, we demonstrate for the first time the native expression of olfactory receptors in cultured cells derived from human olfactory epithelial tissue. We further establish the presence and function of olfactory transduction molecules i

SUBMITTER: Borgmann-Winter KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2951119 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature