tuft cell of olfactory epithelium
tuft cell of olfactory epithelium
A tuft cell that is part of the olfactory epithelium, characterized by a globular body and the expression of neurogranin (Nrgn) in mice. This cell plays a crucial role in allergen recognition and regulating olfactory stem cell proliferation via TRPM5-dependent ATP sensing and cysteinyl leukotriene production. Unlike nasal respiratory tuft cells, it has low to absent expression of taste receptors, including the G protein Gα gustducin, and rarely contacts olfactory sensory neurons directly.