Division of Orofacial Functions and Orthodontics, Kyushu Dental University, 2-6-1 Manazuru, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, 803-8580, Japan.
Division of Anatomy, Department of Health Improvement, Kyushu Dental University, 2-6-1 Manazuru, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, 803-8580, Japan.
Cell Tissue Res. 2021 Feb;383(2):667-675. doi: 10.1007/s00441-020-03283-w. Epub 2020 Sep 22.
Mammalian taste bud cells have a limited lifespan and differentiate into type I, II, and III cells from basal cells (type IV cells) (postmitotic precursor cells). However, little is known regarding the cell lineage within taste buds. In this study, we investigated the cell fate of Mash1-positive precursor cells utilizing the Cre-loxP system to explore the differentiation of taste bud cells. We found that Mash1-expressing cells in Ascl1::CAG-floxed tdTomato mice differentiated into taste bud cells that expressed aromatic -amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) and carbonic anhydrase IV (CA4) (type III cell markers), but did not differentiate into most of gustducin (type II cell marker)-positive cells. Additionally, we found that Mash1-expressing cells could differentiate into phospholipase C β2 (PLCβ2)-positive cells, which have a shorter lifespan compared with AADC- and CA4-positive cells. These results suggest that Mash1-positive precursor cells could differentiate into type III cells, but not into most of type II cells, in the taste buds.
哺乳动物的味蕾细胞寿命有限，由基底细胞（IV 型细胞）分化为 I 型、II 型和 III 型细胞（有丝分裂后前体细胞）。然而，对于味蕾内的细胞谱系知之甚少。在这项研究中，我们利用 Cre-loxP 系统研究了 Mash1 阳性前体细胞的细胞命运，以探索味蕾细胞的分化。我们发现，在 Ascl1::CAG-floxed tdTomato 小鼠中表达 Mash1 的细胞分化为表达芳香族 -氨基酸脱羧酶（AADC）和碳酸酐酶 IV（CA4）的味蕾细胞（III 型细胞标志物），但不能分化为大多数 gustducin（II 型细胞标志物）阳性细胞。此外，我们发现 Mash1 表达的细胞可以分化为 PLCβ2 阳性细胞，其寿命比 AADC 和 CA4 阳性细胞短。这些结果表明，Mash1 阳性前体细胞可在味蕾中分化为 III 型细胞，但不能分化为大多数 II 型细胞。
