Impact of selective CD36 ablation in the nasal neuroepithelium on gene expression

Abstract

CD36 receptor is a multifunctional molecule involved in diverse cellular functions, including fatty acid cell internalization and metabolism. CD36 expression in a subpopulation of neurononal cells in the nasal neuroepithelium is quite recent, and more studies are necessary to better understand the physiological role of this molecule in the nervous system. Here we propose to investigate the effect of a lipid enriched diet on gene expression programs associated with these sensorial neurons in the absence of CD36 signaling target only to specific cells. We will generate mice that lacks functional CD36 in neuronal cells of the nasal epithelium, which will be submitted to standard or lipid-enriched diets. Animals of this strain will be initially tested for confirmation of selective ablation of CD36 by histological and molecular biology techniques (protein detection and mRNA). After confirming the efficiency of the genetic strategy, the animals will be submitted to the specified diets and the nasal neuroepithelium will be collected afterwards for transcriptomic analysis by RNA sequencing and identification of differential expressed genes. These results may point to the role of CD36 in sensorial neurons through gene expression modified by dietary intake, in addition to a possible role in the overall metabolic control exerted by this signaling system. Thus, we aim to find new functions of CD36 through sensory stimulation of dietary lipids and their association with a biological response. Our goal can also contribute to the understanding of the impact of diets on neuronal sensory cells involved in chemical detection. (AU)