title: Ascl3 transcription factor marks a distinct progenitor lineage for non-neuronal support cells in the olfactory epithelium.
abstract: The olfactory epithelium (OE) is composed of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs), sustentacular supporting cells, and several types of non-neuronal cells. Stem and progenitor cells are located basally, and are the source of all cell types needed to maintain OE homeostasis. Here, we report that Ascl3, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, is expressed in the developing OE. Lineage tracing experiments demonstrate that the non-neuronal microvillar cells and Bowman's glands are exclusively derived from Ascl3+progenitor cells in the OE during development. Following chemically-induced injury, Ascl3 expression is activated in a subset of horizontal basal cells (HBCs), which repopulate all microvillar cells and Bowman's glands during OE regeneration. After ablation of Ascl3-expressing cells, the OE can regenerate, but lacks the non-neuronal microvillar and Bowman's gland support cells. These results demonstrate that Ascl3 marks progenitors that are lineage-committed strictly to microvillar cells and Bowman's glands, and highlight the requirement for these cell types to support OE homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Pei-Lun
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: Center for Oral Biology and Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Mridula
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vinjamuri
authors.affiliation: Center for Oral Biology and Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Ovitt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; C446484:Ascl3 protein, mouse