In vitro differentiation of olfactory sensory neurons

• Grant number: 12/04058-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: May 01, 2012
• End date: February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Fabio Papes
• Grantee: Felipe Thadeu Tolentino
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The mammalian Olfactory Sensory System is composed of several subsystems in the nasal cavity. Two systems deserve special attention: the main olfactory system, which detects general odors, and the accessory or vomeronasal system, which detects substances that elicit instinctive behavioral responses. Through them, mammals are capable of identifying the presence and quality of food, the presence of predators, conspecifics and even potential mates. The detection of olfactory sensory stimuli results in important information which depend on complex brain processing pathways to generate appropriate responses. Many aspects about the olfactory system remain unknown, from the molecular mechanisms behind olfactory receptor gene choice during the development a given sensory neuron to the way sensory information is sent to higher processing centers in the brain. An efficient way to culture olfactory sensory neurons in vitro would be extremely useful, because these cells could be used as tools for the study of the questions mentioned above, such as the investigation of the neuron's sensory activity, allowing a better understanding of the genetic and molecular mechanisms behind the expression of olfactory receptors and their properties in odor detection. The current project aims at obtaining methods for the differentiation of olfactory neurons in vitro. Our strategy will be the genetic manipulation of target cells (mouse embryonic stem cells and fibroblasts) to force the expression of a combination of defined transcription factors using viral transduction, resulting in the differentiation (or transdifferentiation) of such cell types into sensory neurons in vitro. After differentiation, neurons will be characterized to verify whether they express the phenotypic markers of olfactory sensory neurons, allowing us to assess the efficiency of the developed method for the generation of neurons with the desired physiology and behavior.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

TOLENTINO, Felipe Thadeu. Production and evaluation of retroviral vectors for the differentiation of olfactory neurons in vitro by over-expression of defined transcription factors. 2014. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia Campinas, SP.