Skn-1a/Pou2f3 functions as a master regulator to generate Trpm5-expressing chemosensory cells in mice
Fig 2
Skn-1a is required for the functional differentiation of Trpm5-positive tracheal brush cells.
A: Immunostaining of Trpm5 and ChAT on coronal sections of the trachea of wild-type and Skn-1a-/- mice. Trpm5-positive brush cells were ChAT positive in the wild-type trachea (arrows), whereas no immunoreactive signals for Trpm5 and ChAT was observed in the Skn-1a-/- trachea. B: Immunostaining of Trpm5 and villin on coronal sections of the trachea of wild-type and Skn-1a-/- mice. In wild-type mice, both Trpm5 and villin-double positive (arrowhead) and villin-single positive (arrow) brush cells were observed. In Skn-1a-/- mice, Trpm5-positive brush cells were absent and only villin-single positive brush cells (arrows) were observed. Scale bars, 20 μm. C: Quantification of the number of immunosignals for Trpm5 and villin in the wild-type and Skn-1a-/- tracheal epithelium. The signals of Trpm5 were completely absent in the Skn-1a-/- tracheal epithelium, and the number of villin-single positive cells was significantly decreased in Skn-1a-/- mice. Each symbol represents an individual mouse. The error bars represent the mean ± SEM (n = 3, *P < 0.05, Student’s t-test).