Introduction

Previous studies have described a number of protein tyrosine kinases (epidermal growth factor receptor, ErbB2, ErbB3, and c-kit) to be expressed in taste bud cells, their innervating nerves, and in developing taste papillae.

Methods

Immunohistochemical staining of mouse taste buds was performed to characterize the expression patterns of the c-kit receptor in taste.

Results

Here we demonstrate that c-kit positive cells are exclusively co-localized with T1R3 (which forms one half of the receptors for sweet and umami taste) in adult taste cells.

Conclusions

This implies that c-kit+ cells are primarily taste cells that respond to sweet and umami, but not to bitter, sour, or salty. These data indicate that the control of c-kit activation may be important for proper taste bud formation and may aid in the maintenance of this specific mature taste cell subpopulation.

Implications

Further characterization of the functional role of c-kit in taste may lead to superior taste cell cultures or organoids, and elucidate mechanisms of taste cell regulation.

中文翻译：

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c-kit受体酪氨酸激酶标记小鼠的甜味或鲜味感T1R3阳性成人味细胞

介绍

先前的研究已经描述了许多蛋白质酪氨酸激酶（表皮生长因子受体，ErbB2，ErbB3和c-kit）在味蕾细胞，它们的神经支配神经和味觉乳头中表达。

方法

进行了小鼠味蕾的免疫组织化学染色，以表征味觉中c-kit受体的表达模式。

结果

在这里，我们证明了c-kit阳性细胞仅与成人味细胞中的T1R3（形成甜味和鲜味味觉受体的一半）共定位。

结论

这意味着c-kit +细胞主要是对甜味和鲜味有反应但对苦味，酸味或咸味无反应的味觉细胞。这些数据表明，c-kit激活的控制对于正确形成味蕾可能很重要，并且可能有助于维持这种特定的成熟味细胞亚群。

含义

c-kit在味觉中的功能作用的进一步表征可能会导致优异的味觉细胞培养或类器官，并阐明味觉细胞调节的机制。