Gustatory-neuron-supplied R-spondin-2 is required for taste bud replenishment

Replenishment of taste cells in taste buds throughout life requires innervation. Recently, we provided evidence that R-spondin is sufficient to promote taste cell generation and restore taste buds in a nerve transection model. Yet, the necessity of gustatory-neuron-supplied R-spondin 2 (RSPO2) in taste tissue homeostasis has remained unresolved. We used genetic approaches to investigate this. In a strain that carries an Rspo2 hypomorphic allele, the number of taste buds was significantly reduced in these mice, compared to wild-type mice, in both anterior and posterior tongue. Specific ablation of Rspo2 in the nodose-petrosal-jugular ganglion complex in another mouse strain led to nearly complete loss of taste buds in the circumvallate papilla. Epithelial ablation of Rnf43/Znrf3, the activity of which is antagonized by R-spondin binding, led to exuberant, sustained expansion of taste buds. Thus, our data strongly support that the RSPO2-RNF43/ZNRF3 axis serves as a master regulator for taste tissue homeostasis.

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Publication Details

Journal
Stem Cell Reports
Published
2025-06-19
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2025.102542
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.12

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article

Gustatory-neuron-supplied R-spondin-2 is required for taste bud replenishment

Keyan Luo, Ranhui Xi, Guillaume de Lartigue, Myunghwan Choi et al.
1 citations
Stem Cell Reports
Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
1.12
article

Gustatory-neuron-supplied R-spondin-2 is required for taste bud replenishment

Keyan Luo, Ranhui Xi, Guillaume de Lartigue, Myunghwan Choi, Mingyue Han, Minliang Zhou, Kurt D. Hankenson, Alan de Araujo, Chanyi Lu, Robert F. Margolskee, Ichiro Matsumoto, Peihua Jiang, Xiaoli Lin, Xu Jiang
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Replenishment of taste cells in taste buds throughout life requires innervation. Recently, we provided evidence that R-spondin is sufficient to promote taste cell generation and restore taste buds in a nerve transection model. Yet, the necessity of gustatory-neuron-supplied R-spondin 2 (RSPO2) in taste tissue homeostasis has remained unresolved. We used genetic approaches to investigate this. In a strain that carries an Rspo2 hypomorphic allele, the number of taste buds was significantly reduced in these mice, compared to wild-type mice, in both anterior and posterior tongue. Specific ablation of Rspo2 in the nodose-petrosal-jugular ganglion complex in another mouse strain led to nearly complete loss of taste buds in the circumvallate papilla. Epithelial ablation of Rnf43/Znrf3, the activity of which is antagonized by R-spondin binding, led to exuberant, sustained expansion of taste buds. Thus, our data strongly support that the RSPO2-RNF43/ZNRF3 axis serves as a master regulator for taste tissue homeostasis.

Stem Cell ReportsVol. 20(7)
Seoul National University (KR), University of Michigan (US), Monell Chemical Senses Center (US)
National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Zero hunger
Openalex Percentile: Top 23%
Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
1.12
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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