title: Neuregulin1 and ErbB expression in the uninjured and regenerating olfactory mucosa.
abstract: Neuregulin1, a protein involved in signaling through the ErbB receptors, is required for the proper development of multiple organ systems. A complete understanding of the expression profile of Neuregulin1 is complicated by the presence of multiple isoform variants that result from extensive alternative splicing. Remarkably, these numerous protein products display a wide range of divergent functional roles, making the characterization of tissue-specific isoforms critical to understanding signaling. Recent evidence suggests an important role for Neuregulin1 signaling during olfactory epithelium development and regeneration. In order to understand the physiological consequences of this signaling, we sought to identify the isoform-specific and cell type-specific expression pattern of Neuregulin1 in the adult olfactory mucosa using a combination of RT-qPCR, FACS, and immunohistochemistry. To complement this information, we also analyzed the cell-type specific expression patterns of the ErbB receptors using immunohistochemistry. We found that multiple Neuregulin1 isoforms, containing predominantly the Type I and Type III N-termini, are expressed in the uninjured olfactory mucosa. Specifically, we found that Type III Neuregulin1 is highly expressed in mature olfactory sensory neurons and Type I Neuregulin1 is highly expressed in duct gland cells. Surprisingly, the divergent localization of these Neuregulin isoforms and their corresponding ErbB receptors does not support a role for active signaling during normal turnover and maintenance of the olfactory mucosa. Conversely, we found that injury to the olfactory epithelium specifically upregulates the Neuregulin1 Type I isoform bringing the expression pattern adjacent to cells expressing both ErbB2 and ErbB3 which is compatible with active signaling, supporting a functional role for Neuregulin1 specifically during regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA; Genetics Program, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA; Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA; Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA. Electronic address: jim.schwob@tufts.edu.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Schwob
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005091:Exons; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018815:Genes, erbB; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D020890:Neuregulin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism*; D018034:Olfactory Receptor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D018739:Oncogene Proteins v-erbB / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012038:Regeneration / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D020890:Neuregulin-1; C490581:Nrg1 protein, mouse; D018739:Oncogene Proteins v-erbB; D020033:Protein Isoforms
keywords: ErbB; Isoform analysis; Neuregulin1; Olfactory epithelium