Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2013 · DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2013/6372.3562 · Published: November 10, 2013
The olfactory epithelium, located in the nasal cavity, contains stem cells called Globose Basal Cells (GBCs) that help regenerate the olfactory mucosa throughout life. These cells haven't been well-studied because isolating them in pure form has been difficult. This study successfully isolated GBCs from rat olfactory mucosa by tagging them with GBC-III antibody and using a Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter (FACS) to separate them. The GBC-III antibody specifically recognizes a protein on the surface of GBCs. The researchers also developed standardized surgical and chemical procedures for obtaining olfactory mucosa from rats and separating the olfactory epithelium from the underlying tissue.
GBCs can be used to study and potentially treat neurodegenerative disorders like multiple sclerosis and brain ischemia, due to their similarity to the CNS microenvironment.
GBCs hold potential for treating spinal cord trauma, as they share ectodermal development origins with neuronal and non-neuronal cells of the CNS.
The accessibility of olfactory epithelium allows for autologous transplantation of GBCs to treat different CNS disorders, minimizing the risk of rejection.