Korea University researchers find sweet taste cells resist nerve damage through c-Kit protein
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 20-Dec-2025 17:11 ET (20-Dec-2025 22:11 GMT/UTC)
When the nerves connected to taste buds are cut, the buds usually wither and later regrow. But Korean researchers found that not all taste cells fade equally. Sweet-sensing cells, supported by the protein c-Kit, are uniquely resilient. Using mouse and organoid experiments, the team showed that blocking c-Kit with the cancer drug imatinib eliminated these survivors, preventing regeneration. The discovery reveals how specific cell types drive taste recovery.
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