The c-kit Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Marks Sweet or Umami Sensing T1R3 Positive Adult Taste Cells in Mice

Previous studies have described a number of protein tyrosine kinases (epidermal growth factor receptor, ErbB2, ErbB3, and c-kit) to be expressed in taste bud cells, their innervating nerves, and in developing taste papillae.

Immunohistochemical staining of mouse taste buds was performed to characterize the expression patterns of the c-kit receptor in taste.

Here we demonstrate that c-kit positive cells are exclusively co-localized with T1R3 (which forms one half of the receptors for sweet and umami taste) in adult taste cells.

This implies that c-kit+ cells are primarily taste cells that respond to sweet and umami, but not to bitter, sour, or salty. These data indicate that the control of c-kit activation may be important for proper taste bud formation and may aid in the maintenance of this specific mature taste cell subpopulation.

Further characterization of the functional role of c-kit in taste may lead to superior taste cell cultures or organoids, and elucidate mechanisms of taste cell regulation.