Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2025
09:53
Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase
Published on: April 23, 2019
7.2K
Association between Olfactory Receptors and Skin Physiology
Jinyoung Seo1, Subin Choi1, Hyeyoun Kim2
1Department of Integrative Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea.
Annals of Dermatology
|April 22, 2022
Summary
Olfactory receptors (ORs) detect smells but are also found in skin cells. This review explores their ectopic expression and novel functions beyond olfaction, particularly in skin biology.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Olfactory receptors (ORs) are primarily known for detecting odorants in the nasal cavity.
- Ectopic expression of ORs in non-olfactory tissues suggests diverse, tissue-specific functions.
- The role of ORs outside of the olfactory system is an emerging area of research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current research on the ectopic expression of olfactory receptors in skin.
- To elucidate the specific functions of ectopically expressed ORs in skin.
- To identify future research directions in this field.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating olfactory receptor expression and function in skin.
- Analysis of experimental data on OR signaling pathways in dermal and epidermal cells.
- Synthesis of findings from in vitro and in vivo models.
Main Results:
- Olfactory receptors are expressed in various skin cell types, including keratinocytes and melanocytes.
- Ectopic ORs in skin are involved in processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and immune responses.
- Specific odorants can modulate skin functions via these ectopically expressed ORs.
Conclusions:
- Ectopic olfactory receptors play significant roles in skin physiology and homeostasis.
- Targeting skin-expressed ORs may offer novel therapeutic strategies for dermatological conditions.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms and therapeutic potential of ORs in skin.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway
9.8K
Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
The olfactory...
The olfactory...
9.8K
01:03Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure
9.7K
The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
9.7K
01:16Sensory Functions of the Skin
6.1K
The skin is the largest organ of the human body and plays a crucial role in our sensory perception. It contains a vast network of sensory receptors that contribute to the skin's protective function by perceiving physical, biological, and environmental cues and generating relevant responses.
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
6.1K
01:25Olfaction
45.3K
The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
45.3K
01:26Introduction to Special Senses
6.2K
Sensory receptors play an integral part in comprehending our external and internal environments. They receive diverse stimuli, converting them into the nervous system's electrochemical signals. This conversion occurs as the stimulus alters the sensory neuron's cell membrane potential, instigating the generation of an action potential. This action potential is subsequently transmitted to the central nervous system (CNS), which integrates with other sensory data or higher cognitive...
6.2K
01:27Tactile and Chemical Senses
376
Tactile senses encompass touch, temperature, and pain, each mediated by specific receptors. Touch receptors detect mechanical energy or pressure against the skin. Sensory fibers from these receptors enter the spinal cord and relay information to the brain stem. Here, most fibers cross over to the opposite side of the brain. The touch information then moves to the thalamus, which projects a map of the body's surface onto the somatosensory areas of the parietal lobes in the cerebral cortex.
376