Meeting Abstract

P1.132  Sunday, Jan. 4  Growth Factors and Receptors in the Olfactory Epithelium BERGMAN, D.A.*; SAMMETA, N.; MCCLINTOCK, T.S.; Grand Valley State University; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky bergmand@gvsu.edu

The olfactory epithelium (OE) is a dynamic cellular environment where cell death, proliferation, and neural differentiation are continuous. These dynamics are coordinated by signaling events, some of which are known (e.g., Wu et al. 2003, Neuron 37:197). Our microarray data predicts expression of 47 growth factors and 30 growth factor receptors in the olfactory epithelium. The data also predict whether they are expressed in olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) or in other cells in the olfactory epithelium. We have used in situ hybridization to test these predictions. OSNs express growth factor receptors Acvr1, Arvcf, Bmpr1a, Fzd3, Igf2r, Pdgfrb, Pdgfr1, and Tgfbr1, and growth factors Ecgf, Fgf9, Fgf12, and Pdgfa. Basal cells expressed growth factor receptors Fzd3 and Tgfbr1, and growth factors Hdgf and Pdgfa. These data agree with evidence of local signaling in the olfactory epithelium by PDGF and TGF-b family signals. They also predict roles for Wnt, Ecgf, and Hdgf signaling in the olfactory epithelium, or in the case of signals expressed by OSNs, the possibility of signaling to cells outside the olfactory epithelium such as olfactory ensheathing cells or cells in the olfactory bulb.