Olfactory receptors in neural regeneration in the central nervous system

Neural Regen Res, 2025 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-24-00495 · Published: September 6, 2024

Simple Explanation

Olfactory receptors, traditionally known for detecting odors, are also found in various non-olfactory tissues like the brain and skin. This discovery challenges our understanding of sensory and physiological processes and opens new possibilities for therapies and diagnostics. These receptors play diverse roles beyond smell, influencing metabolism, cell growth, and chemotaxis. Their ability to respond to various chemicals can be used in bioengineering for biosensors and targeted treatments. This review explores how olfactory receptors, expressed in unexpected places, may aid neural regeneration in the central nervous system. It also highlights compounds that can activate these receptors to start regenerative processes, suggesting their potential as therapeutic targets.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Review

Key Findings

1
Olfactory receptors are crucial for detecting odors and influencing behaviors from food choices to emotional memories, and have potential applications in medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring.
2
Ectopic olfactory receptors play diverse roles beyond olfaction, such as metabolism regulation, cell proliferation, and chemotaxis.
3
Olfactory receptors could serve as potential therapeutic targets for enhancing neural repair and recovery following central nervous system injuries.

Research Summary

Olfactory receptors, traditionally recognized for their role in detecting volatile compounds, have been found to have broader functional implications in numerous non-olfactory tissues. Ectopic OR expression challenges conventional understanding and opens new avenues for therapeutic interventions and diagnostic tools. The paper reviews evidence supporting olfactory receptor involvement in neuroregeneration, arising from the regenerative capacity of the mammalian olfactory system and the ectopic expression of olfactory receptors in various tissues.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Interventions

Ectopic olfactory receptors can be targeted for therapeutic interventions in various diseases, including dermatitis, psoriasis, prostate cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Diagnostic Tools

The presence and activity of olfactory receptors in non-olfactory tissues can be used to develop novel diagnostic tools for early disease detection and monitoring.

Bioengineering Applications

The ability of olfactory receptors to respond to a wide array of chemical ligands can be harnessed for the development of novel biosensors and targeted therapies.

Study Limitations

1
Characterization of olfactory receptors is difficult due to lack of tools.
2
The role of olfactory receptors in ectopic expression is far from being completely understood.
3
It is unknown whether the diversity of structures able to interact with olfactory receptors arises from receptor promiscuity or is due to a lack of identification of “cognate” agonist(s).

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