A new defender for your sense of smell

(Monell Chemical Senses Center) New research from the Monell Center increases understanding of a mysterious sensory cell located in the olfactory epithelium, the patch of nasal tissue that contains odor-detecting olfactory receptor cells. The findings suggest that the so-called microvillous cells (MVCs) may protect the vulnerable olfactory epithelium by detecting and initiating defenses against viruses, bacteria, and other potentially harmful invaders.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news