title: CD36 is expressed in a defined subpopulation of neurons in the olfactory epithelium.
abstract: The sensory neurons in the olfactory epithelium (OSNs) are equipped with a large repertoire of olfactory receptors and the associated signal transduction machinery. In addition to the canonical OSNs, which express odorant receptors (ORs), the epithelium contains specialized subpopulations of sensory neurons that can detect specific information from environmental cues and relay it to relevant neuronal circuitries. Here we describe a subpopulation of mature OSNs in the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) which expresses CD36, a multifunctional receptor involved in a series of biological processes, including sensory perception of lipid ligands. The Cd36 expressing neurons coexpress markers of mature OSNs and are dispersed throughout the MOE. Unlike several ORs analyzed in our study, we found frequent coexpression of the OR Olfr287 in these neurons, suggesting that only a specific set of ORs may be coexpressed with CD36 in OSNs. We also show that CD36 is expressed in the cilia of OSNs, indicating a possible role in odorant detection. CD36-deficient mice display no signs of gross changes in the organization of the olfactory epithelium, but show impaired preference for a lipid mixture odor. Our results show that CD36-expressing neurons represent a distinct population of OSNs, which may have specific functions in olfaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: André Machado
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Xavier
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raissa Guimarães
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maíra Harume
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tiago Jonas
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hebe Mizuno
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Evolution, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade de Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcio Yukio
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Science, Santa Casa de São Paulo Medical School, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiana Rosado
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Rosenstock
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Evolution, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade de Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Papes
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malnic
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isaias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Glezer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D002923:Cilia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D044385:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008055:Lipids / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis; D051842:Olfactory Marker Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018034:Olfactory Receptor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010675:Pheromones / Q000494:pharmacology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018955:CD36 Antigens; D044385:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits; D008055:Lipids; D051842:Olfactory Marker Protein; C497598:Omp protein, mouse; D010675:Pheromones; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D018035:Receptors, Odorant; C084618:olfactory G protein subunit alpha olf