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中甜味或鲜味感知 T1R3 阳性成年味觉细胞

介绍

先前的研究已经描述了许多蛋白酪氨酸激酶（表皮生长因子受体、ErbB2、ErbB3 和 c-kit）在味蕾细胞、其支配神经和发育中的味乳头中表达。

方法

对小鼠味蕾进行免疫组织化学染色，以表征味觉中 c-kit 受体的表达模式。

结果

在这里，我们证明 c-kit 阳性细胞专门与成人味觉细胞中的 T1R3（形成甜味和鲜味受体的一半）共定位。

结论

这意味着 c-kit+ 细胞主要是味觉细胞，对甜味和鲜味做出反应，但对苦味、酸味或咸味没有反应。这些数据表明，c-kit 激活的控制对于正确的味蕾形成可能很重要，并且可能有助于维持这种特定的成熟味觉细胞亚群。

影响

进一步表征 c-kit 在味觉中的功能作用可能会产生更好的味觉细胞培养物或类器官，并阐明味觉细胞调节机制。