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Epidermal growth factor receptor mRNA and protein are expressed in progenitor cells of the olfactory epithelium
Author(s) -
Krish.S. Rama,
Little Susan S.,
Getchell Thomas V.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9861(19960916)373:2<297::aid-cne11>3.0.co;2-i
Subject(s) - biology , olfactory epithelium , epidermal growth factor , tgf alpha , progenitor cell , olfactory mucosa , epithelium , epidermal growth factor receptor , immunocytochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , growth factor , receptor , endocrinology , olfactory system , stem cell , neuroscience , biochemistry , genetics
Olfactory receptor neurons are continuously replaced postnatally through the initiation of the division and terminal differentiation of progenitor cells located in the basal layer of the olfactory epithelium. Although the factors that regulate this process in vivo are not known, recent in vitro studies demonstrated that members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family including transforming growth factor‐α (TGFα) and EGF are highly potent in promoting the proliferation of progenitor cells, suggesting a role for the EGF receptor (EGFR), which is the molecular receptor for both mitogens. We have examined the expression of EGFR mRNA and protein in the olfactory epithelium by using reverse transcriptase—polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and Western blot analysis and have examined their cellular localization with in situ RT‐PCR and immunocytochemistry. RT‐PCR and Southern blot analysis demonstrated that EGFR mRNA is expressed in the olfactory mucosa and also in the positive control tissues, kidney and tongue. The 170‐kDa EGFR protein was identified with Western blot analysis in the olfactory epithelium and control tissues. Our results using in situ RT‐PCR localized EGFR mRNA—expressing cells more extensively in the basal cell layer of the epithelium than did the immunocytochemical methods. These results suggest that EGFR mediates the mitogenic effect of TGFα and/or EGF on the quiescent basal cells to initiate the cell cycle. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.