A research team from Tufts University School of Medicine has recently published significant findings in Cell Reports Methods, successfully developing an innovative three-dimensional olfactory tissue organoid model. This study not only uncovers key mechanisms in olfactory nerve regeneration but also opens new avenues for treating olfactory disorders.

Led by Assistant Professor Brian Lin from the Department of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, the study features primary author Dr. Juliana Gutschow Gameiro, who designed an easy-to-use mouse organoid model. This model systematically examines the interactions between horizontal basal cells (HBCs) and globose basal cells (GBCs)—two types of stem cells—in olfactory nerve regeneration. "Our research shows that these two stem cells may be interdependent," noted Professor Lin, "particularly the HBCs, previously thought to be dormant, which actually play a key role in new neuron generation through the production of KRT5 protein."

Experimental data revealed that selectively removing specific HBC subpopulations from organoid cultures significantly impairs new neuron generation, with a decline exceeding 60%. The study also found that nerve regeneration capacity in older mice is markedly reduced, potentially linked to the age-related decrease in GBC numbers.

"The unique value of this study lies in its accessibility," emphasized Professor Lin. "We intentionally designed this model to be buildable under standard laboratory conditions, hoping to encourage more related research." Currently, the team is working to extend the model to human cells, aiming to develop human olfactory organoids for drug screening.