Prox1 maintains taste bud structure via inhibition of apoptosis
Aya Hagimoto, Eriko Koyanagi-Matsumura, Norihito Oura, Mitsuru Saito, Tatsurou Tanaka, Hirohito Miura
TL;DR
Prox1 helps maintain taste bud structure by preventing cell death, ensuring proper function and longevity of taste cells.
Contribution
This study reveals Prox1's novel role in taste bud homeostasis by inhibiting apoptosis and maintaining cell lifespan.
Findings
Prox1 knockout mice had significantly fewer Type I, II, and III taste cells compared to wild-type mice.
Apoptosis in taste bud cells nearly doubled in Prox1 knockout mice, reducing cell lifespan.
Structural alterations in taste buds were observed due to increased apoptosis in Prox1 knockout mice.
Abstract
Taste buds are maintained by continuous cell renewal, receiving a steady influx of postmitotic cells from the surrounding epithelial region. Within taste buds, Type I, II, and III cells continuously differentiate from Type IV postmitotic precursor cells and are removed via apoptosis. These processes are likely governed by various transcription factors. Among the transcription factors expressed in taste buds, Prox1, a homeobox transcription factor, is the only factor expressed in all taste bud cells including precursor cells. However, its role in taste buds remains unclear. Here, we investigate the function of Prox1 in taste bud cell turnover using conditional knockout (cKO) mice. In Prox1 cKO mice, all Type I, II, and III cells were significantly reduced, resulting in approximately half the total cell number per taste bud compared to wild-type mice, while Type IV cell numbers remained…
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Taxonomy
TopicsBiochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques · Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies · RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms