The main olfactory epithelium (MOE) is one of the few organs in which neurons are constantly renewed, even in adults. Epigenetic factors seem to play an important role in this process and therefore our studies focused on a methyltransferase previously implied in cell proliferation, named EZH2. In vivo studies carried out in our lab pointed to a role of the pharmacological inhibition of EZH2 by GSK343 in enhancing the olfactory neuronal population in the MOE. Accordingly, the present study focused on understanding the mechanism involved in this pheomenon, using in vitro cell culture of mouse primary olfactory and embryonic stem cells (mESC). We could not obtain stable olfactory stem cells in primary culture, due to slow growth and low yield. For mESCs, treatement with 10μM of GSK343 led to lower rates of cell proliferation compared to control. RT-qPCR experiments to test the expression of genes characteristic of proliferating, undifferentiated and differentiated cells are being carried out to further understand the role of EZH2 in olfaction.
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